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Army head calls for more troops Army head calls for more troops
(9 minutes later)
More troops are needed in the Afghan province of Helmand to provide the security its people need, the head of the British Army has said.More troops are needed in the Afghan province of Helmand to provide the security its people need, the head of the British Army has said.
General Sir Richard Dannatt said it did not matter whether they were British, American or Afghan troops.General Sir Richard Dannatt said it did not matter whether they were British, American or Afghan troops.
His comments come after 15 UK soldiers were killed this month and the government has been criticised for a lack of equipment for UK forces.His comments come after 15 UK soldiers were killed this month and the government has been criticised for a lack of equipment for UK forces.
Gen Dannatt was on his last visit to Afghanistan before retiring this month.Gen Dannatt was on his last visit to Afghanistan before retiring this month.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I have said before, we can have effect where we have boots on the ground.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I have said before, we can have effect where we have boots on the ground.
'The bottom line'
"I don't mind whether the feet in those boots are British, American or Afghan, but we need more to have the persistent effect to give the people (of Helmand) confidence in us."I don't mind whether the feet in those boots are British, American or Afghan, but we need more to have the persistent effect to give the people (of Helmand) confidence in us.
"That is the top line and the bottom line.""That is the top line and the bottom line."
Gen Dannatt said the reason why local people had now established a bustling market in Sangin, once the scene of ferocious fighting, was the security presence on the ground.Gen Dannatt said the reason why local people had now established a bustling market in Sangin, once the scene of ferocious fighting, was the security presence on the ground.
Asked whether Britain's 9,100-strong force in Afghanistan has the equipment it needs, he said: "We are building our resources up in terms of the equipment we have got.Asked whether Britain's 9,100-strong force in Afghanistan has the equipment it needs, he said: "We are building our resources up in terms of the equipment we have got.
"It has probably not moved as fast as I would have liked it to have moved, but we are increasing the numbers."It has probably not moved as fast as I would have liked it to have moved, but we are increasing the numbers.
"I would like to get more energy behind it if we possibly can.""I would like to get more energy behind it if we possibly can."
The government has been heavily criticised for not providing soldiers with the equipment they need.
Earlier this week Conservative leader David Cameron attacked the "scandal" of helicopter shortages and accused the government of the "ultimate dereliction of duty" in under-equipping the armed forces.
And Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg criticised British strategy in Afghanistan as "over-ambitious in aim and under-resourced in practice".
But Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted Britain has the resources "to do the job", and told MPs UK forces were the best equipped they had been in 40 years.