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| MP wants more Afghanistan troops | MP wants more Afghanistan troops |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Sending more UK troops to Afghanistan could save lives, Conservative MP Patrick Mercer has said. | Sending more UK troops to Afghanistan could save lives, Conservative MP Patrick Mercer has said. |
| His comments came after the prime minister announced plans suggesting a greater role for British troops, during a surprise visit to the country. | His comments came after the prime minister announced plans suggesting a greater role for British troops, during a surprise visit to the country. |
| Mr Mercer, a former soldier, saw Gordon Brown's announcement as a pledge to send more British personnel. | Mr Mercer, a former soldier, saw Gordon Brown's announcement as a pledge to send more British personnel. |
| He said his former regiment was in Afghanistan "and they tell me that the secret to this is extra manpower." | He said his former regiment was in Afghanistan "and they tell me that the secret to this is extra manpower." |
| Speaking in Helmand province, Mr Brown pledged greater protection for troops from roadside bombs and better equipment, including more armoured vehicles. | Speaking in Helmand province, Mr Brown pledged greater protection for troops from roadside bombs and better equipment, including more armoured vehicles. |
| He announced plans for the British to train another 50,000 Afghan troops trained by November 2010, which would enable them to "take more responsibility for their own affairs". | He announced plans for the British to train another 50,000 Afghan troops trained by November 2010, which would enable them to "take more responsibility for their own affairs". |
| Improvised devices | Improvised devices |
| Mr Mercer said: "For at least the last two years, commanders on the ground have been asking for extra troops. That was denied by the government. | Mr Mercer said: "For at least the last two years, commanders on the ground have been asking for extra troops. That was denied by the government. |
| Mr Brown said there would be more unmanned surveillance aircraft | |
| "I don't quite know why Gordon Brown only now is announcing this. | "I don't quite know why Gordon Brown only now is announcing this. |
| "With the extra manpower that is now being promised, perhaps so many lives wouldn't have been lost over the last few months." | "With the extra manpower that is now being promised, perhaps so many lives wouldn't have been lost over the last few months." |
| The BBC's deputy political editor, James Landale, who was in Helmand with the prime minister, said training that number of Afghans so quickly could require an increase in the number of British troops. | The BBC's deputy political editor, James Landale, who was in Helmand with the prime minister, said training that number of Afghans so quickly could require an increase in the number of British troops. |
| There are currently 9,000 UK troops in the country, mostly in Helmand. | There are currently 9,000 UK troops in the country, mostly in Helmand. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYWe need better equipment not just more troops[PaulRichard2], Southampton, Send us your comments | |
| Mr Brown said another 200 soldiers skilled in countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) would be deployed in the autumn. | Mr Brown said another 200 soldiers skilled in countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) would be deployed in the autumn. |
| There would also be more unmanned surveillance aircraft, he said. | There would also be more unmanned surveillance aircraft, he said. |
| The latest death in Afghanistan - a Royal Marine killed on foot patrol in Helmand early on Saturday morning - was announced as the prime minister was flying home. | The latest death in Afghanistan - a Royal Marine killed on foot patrol in Helmand early on Saturday morning - was announced as the prime minister was flying home. |
| He is the 208th member of the UK forces to have died in Afghanistan since 2001. | He is the 208th member of the UK forces to have died in Afghanistan since 2001. |