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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| PM challenged in helicopter row | PM challenged in helicopter row |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The prime minister's assertion that a lack of helicopters has not cost lives in Afghanistan is to be challenged by an influential MPs' committee. | The prime minister's assertion that a lack of helicopters has not cost lives in Afghanistan is to be challenged by an influential MPs' committee. |
| The Ministry of Defence should increase the number of helicopters and the training of crews, a defence select committee report will say. | The Ministry of Defence should increase the number of helicopters and the training of crews, a defence select committee report will say. |
| The report will also warn the government not to delay decisions on acquiring further helicopters. | The report will also warn the government not to delay decisions on acquiring further helicopters. |
| Amid rising UK casualties, critics have claimed troops are ill-equipped. | Amid rising UK casualties, critics have claimed troops are ill-equipped. |
| BBC political correspondent Carole Walker says the report, which is due to be released later on Thursday, will express concern that operational commanders in Afghanistan have to use ground transport. | BBC political correspondent Carole Walker says the report, which is due to be released later on Thursday, will express concern that operational commanders in Afghanistan have to use ground transport. |
| It says helicopter lift would be preferable in terms of the outcome and the protection of our forces. | It says helicopter lift would be preferable in terms of the outcome and the protection of our forces. |
| Warning | Warning |
| The report will warn that a reduction in medium and heavy lift helicopters will make the situation worse. | The report will warn that a reduction in medium and heavy lift helicopters will make the situation worse. |
| Gordon Brown: 'Helicopters have got to be adapted for the terrain in Afghanistan' | |
| The report has been brought forward in time for the Commons debate on Afghanistan later and is due to be published towards the end of the prime minister's appearance before a committee of senior MPs. | The report has been brought forward in time for the Commons debate on Afghanistan later and is due to be published towards the end of the prime minister's appearance before a committee of senior MPs. |
| On Wednesday Mr Brown said it was "absolutely clear" the heavy loss of life in recent weeks was not due to a lack of helicopters. | On Wednesday Mr Brown said it was "absolutely clear" the heavy loss of life in recent weeks was not due to a lack of helicopters. |
| But Tory leader David Cameron called for more urgent action and criticised "lofty and vague" war aims. | But Tory leader David Cameron called for more urgent action and criticised "lofty and vague" war aims. |
| An offensive designed to increase security ahead of Afghan elections next month has seen a big increase in UK casualties, with 15 servicemen killed in the first 10 days of the month. | An offensive designed to increase security ahead of Afghan elections next month has seen a big increase in UK casualties, with 15 servicemen killed in the first 10 days of the month. |
| It means 184 service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq. | It means 184 service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq. |