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| Dead soldier's sister attacks PM | Dead soldier's sister attacks PM |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has been urged to pull UK troops out of Afghanistan, by the sister of a soldier killed in Iraq. | |
| The prime minister was confronted by Karla Ellis, sister of Pte Lee Ellis, who died in a roadside bomb in 2006. | The prime minister was confronted by Karla Ellis, sister of Pte Lee Ellis, who died in a roadside bomb in 2006. |
| At an event organised by Manchester radio station Key 103, Ms Ellis urged Mr Brown to "bring them home". | At an event organised by Manchester radio station Key 103, Ms Ellis urged Mr Brown to "bring them home". |
| Mr Brown said he wanted British troops to return "as quickly as possible" but insisted that supporting Afghan forces was necessary to keep the UK safe. | Mr Brown said he wanted British troops to return "as quickly as possible" but insisted that supporting Afghan forces was necessary to keep the UK safe. |
| The confrontation followed the killing of five British soldiers by an Afghan policeman on Tuesday. | The confrontation followed the killing of five British soldiers by an Afghan policeman on Tuesday. |
| Also on Thursday, a soldier from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, died in an explosion near Sangin, central Helmand. | Also on Thursday, a soldier from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, died in an explosion near Sangin, central Helmand. |
| 'Do the right thing' | 'Do the right thing' |
| Father-of-one Pte Ellis, 23, served with the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment based in Colchester, Essex, and was attached to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. | Father-of-one Pte Ellis, 23, served with the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment based in Colchester, Essex, and was attached to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. |
| Ms Ellis, 28, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, who has been active raising funds for injured veterans and their families, told the prime minister that the government's strategy in Afghanistan was not working. | Ms Ellis, 28, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, who has been active raising funds for injured veterans and their families, told the prime minister that the government's strategy in Afghanistan was not working. |
| At a question and answer session organised by the radio station, she urged the UK to withdraw its forces. | At a question and answer session organised by the radio station, she urged the UK to withdraw its forces. |
| She asked: "How many of our under-equipped soldiers have to die before the powers that be do the right thing, instead of trying to save face, and bring them home?" | She asked: "How many of our under-equipped soldiers have to die before the powers that be do the right thing, instead of trying to save face, and bring them home?" |
| Our whole strategy is to make sure we are not an occupying army Gordon BrownPrime Minister Iraq soldier buried with honours Tributes to five 'men of courage' | Our whole strategy is to make sure we are not an occupying army Gordon BrownPrime Minister Iraq soldier buried with honours Tributes to five 'men of courage' |
| Mr Brown replied that he wanted British troops back home as well, but said that the "way we can do it is to train up the Afghans themselves". | Mr Brown replied that he wanted British troops back home as well, but said that the "way we can do it is to train up the Afghans themselves". |
| He added that some three-quarters of terrorist plots against the UK had been traced back to the border area of Afghanistan or Pakistan. | He added that some three-quarters of terrorist plots against the UK had been traced back to the border area of Afghanistan or Pakistan. |
| The prime minister continued: "The Taliban have access to weapons they can use indiscriminately against you or me on the streets of cities in Britain. | The prime minister continued: "The Taliban have access to weapons they can use indiscriminately against you or me on the streets of cities in Britain. |
| "What we are facing in Afghanistan is an insurgency, it is guerilla warfare. | "What we are facing in Afghanistan is an insurgency, it is guerilla warfare. |
| "The strategy is to get the Afghans to take more responsibility for their own government." | "The strategy is to get the Afghans to take more responsibility for their own government." |
| He acknowledged that the recent election in Afghanistan had been "less than perfect" but said the country needed a stronger army and police force. | He acknowledged that the recent election in Afghanistan had been "less than perfect" but said the country needed a stronger army and police force. |
| Ms Ellis countered: "I don't think that strategy will work. You can't trust these people." | Ms Ellis countered: "I don't think that strategy will work. You can't trust these people." |
| Mr Brown responded that the Taliban "know the minute the Afghan forces get stronger, they are in a worse position". | Mr Brown responded that the Taliban "know the minute the Afghan forces get stronger, they are in a worse position". |
| He added: "Our whole strategy is to make sure we are not an occupying army but that the Afghans are starting to run their own affairs." | He added: "Our whole strategy is to make sure we are not an occupying army but that the Afghans are starting to run their own affairs." |
| Opened fire | Opened fire |
| The five soldiers killed on Tuesday had been working and living in a compound at a national police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district in the two weeks up to their deaths. | The five soldiers killed on Tuesday had been working and living in a compound at a national police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district in the two weeks up to their deaths. |
| They were Warrant Officer first class Darren Chant, 40; Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37; Guardsman Jimmy Major, 18; Corporal Steven Boote, 22, and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, 24. | They were Warrant Officer first class Darren Chant, 40; Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37; Guardsman Jimmy Major, 18; Corporal Steven Boote, 22, and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, 24. |
| They died when a policeman being trained by UK forces opened fire, also injuring six other British personnel and two Afghan National Police officers. | They died when a policeman being trained by UK forces opened fire, also injuring six other British personnel and two Afghan National Police officers. |
| The top UK general in Afghanistan, Gen Jim Dutton, has told the BBC that the attack "probably won't be the last" of its kind. | The top UK general in Afghanistan, Gen Jim Dutton, has told the BBC that the attack "probably won't be the last" of its kind. |
| The soldier's death in Sangin on Thursday brings the number of UK personnel who have died in Afghanistan since the mission began in October 2001 to 230. | The soldier's death in Sangin on Thursday brings the number of UK personnel who have died in Afghanistan since the mission began in October 2001 to 230. |
| Mr Brown is to make what advisers call a "major" speech on the Afghanistan campaign on Friday. | Mr Brown is to make what advisers call a "major" speech on the Afghanistan campaign on Friday. |