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Brown warns Karzai on corruption Brown warns Karzai on corruption
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has told Afghan President Hamid Karzai he will not put UK troops "in harm's way for a government that does not stand up against corruption".Gordon Brown has told Afghan President Hamid Karzai he will not put UK troops "in harm's way for a government that does not stand up against corruption".
In a speech, Mr Brown said the UK "cannot, must not and will not walk away" from its mission in Afghanistan.In a speech, Mr Brown said the UK "cannot, must not and will not walk away" from its mission in Afghanistan.
But he said continued coalition support would depend on the delivery of reform.But he said continued coalition support would depend on the delivery of reform.
The Tories accused Mr Brown of sending "mixed messages" on Afghanistan - and the Lib Dems called for a complete rethink of the international strategy.The Tories accused Mr Brown of sending "mixed messages" on Afghanistan - and the Lib Dems called for a complete rethink of the international strategy.
Mr Brown said the Afghan government had become a "byword for corruption" and he called for the creation of a new commission to investigate abuses, warning President Karzai that "cronies and warlords should have no place in the future of Afghanistan". Former chief of the defence staff, Lord Guthrie, launched a strong attack on the government's policy in Afghanistan, saying there was clear need for more helicopters. He also criticised "dithering" in London over promised extra troops.
'Five tests' Speaking in a House of Lords debate, he said: "I do think that the servicemen, the people on the front line, are questioning whether the government is really, really committed to making progress in Afghanistan."
In his speech, Mr Brown said that as long as Al-Qaeda continues to plot attacks on Britain from the region, "we cannot, must not and will not walk away."
[The British people] will not unconditionally support soldiers being sent to fight and die for a corrupt and illegitimate government Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader In full: Brown Afghan speech Latest Afghan deaths: Reaction Read your comments
He said: "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security."
But he also launched his strongest criticism yet of the Afghan government, saying it had become a "byword for corruption".
And he called for the creation of a new commission to investigate abuses, warning President Karzai that "cronies and warlords should have no place in the future of Afghanistan".
The UK prime minister said he hoped Mr Karzai would use his inauguration speech on 19 November to set out detailed plans to fight corruption, build up his security forces and improve the governance of his country.The UK prime minister said he hoped Mr Karzai would use his inauguration speech on 19 November to set out detailed plans to fight corruption, build up his security forces and improve the governance of his country.

Most recent UK fatalities

Total deaths 2009: 93
Updated: Fri Nov 06 2009Full list
And he set out a series of tests he said President Karzai's government had to pass to ensure continued international backing.And he set out a series of tests he said President Karzai's government had to pass to ensure continued international backing.
"International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development and engagement with its neighbours," said Mr Brown."International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development and engagement with its neighbours," said Mr Brown.
"If, with our help, the new government of Afghanistan meets these five tests, it will have fulfilled an essential contract with its own people. And it will have earned the continuing support of the international community, despite the continuing sacrifice."If, with our help, the new government of Afghanistan meets these five tests, it will have fulfilled an essential contract with its own people. And it will have earned the continuing support of the international community, despite the continuing sacrifice.
"If the government fails to meet these five tests, it will have not only failed its own people, it will have forfeited its right to international support.""If the government fails to meet these five tests, it will have not only failed its own people, it will have forfeited its right to international support."
Mr Brown called for an "inclusive" political settlement in Afghanistan after the recent heavily criticised election and said that all those who rejected violence must be embraced as part of a process of reconciliation.Mr Brown called for an "inclusive" political settlement in Afghanistan after the recent heavily criticised election and said that all those who rejected violence must be embraced as part of a process of reconciliation.
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Most recent UK fatalities

Total deaths 2009: 93
Updated: Fri Nov 06 2009Full list
Stressing the importance of holding the international coalition together, Mr Brown said: "We will succeed or fail together and we will succeed."Stressing the importance of holding the international coalition together, Mr Brown said: "We will succeed or fail together and we will succeed."
We will not succeed in Afghanistan without a new and workable international plan Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader Troop deaths 'not last atrocity' In full: Brown Afghan speech
His comments came after five soldiers were killed in Helmand on Tuesday by a police officer who was being trained by UK forces.His comments came after five soldiers were killed in Helmand on Tuesday by a police officer who was being trained by UK forces.
Mr Brown said the UK's mentoring programme would continue "because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation".Mr Brown said the UK's mentoring programme would continue "because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation".
He said the UK's role in Afghanistan could not be undertaken without "risk or danger" and paid tribute to the sacrifice of British troops, saying they were "a defining feature" of the British nation.He said the UK's role in Afghanistan could not be undertaken without "risk or danger" and paid tribute to the sacrifice of British troops, saying they were "a defining feature" of the British nation.
Mr Brown reiterated his belief that the main terrorist threat to the UK continues to emanate from Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying anyone who questioned why UK troops were in Afghanistan should reflect on the terrorist atrocities since 2001.Mr Brown reiterated his belief that the main terrorist threat to the UK continues to emanate from Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying anyone who questioned why UK troops were in Afghanistan should reflect on the terrorist atrocities since 2001.
He added that so long as military action has a "suppressive effect on al-Qaeda", which he said continues to plot attacks on Britain from the region, "we cannot, must not and will not walk away."
He added: "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security."
Mr Brown said he wanted to pay a personal tribute to all UK service personnel killed and injured in Afghanistan and he compared them with the dead of the First and Second World Wars who will be remembered in services across the country on Sunday.
His speech comes amid growing unease at Westminster about the situation in Afghanistan, with a handful of Labour MPs calling for a phased withdrawal of British troops.His speech comes amid growing unease at Westminster about the situation in Afghanistan, with a handful of Labour MPs calling for a phased withdrawal of British troops.
The UK's most senior general in Afghanistan, Jim Dutton, has told the BBC the killing of the five soldiers in Helmand province on Tuesday, "probably won't be the last" such "atrocity". ANALYSIS Caroline Wyatt,BBC defence correspondent
'Mixed messages' In a phrase that may dismay military commanders, the Prime Minister said of the international coalition that "in the end we will succeed or fail together." Talk of failure is not something commanders or troops on the ground want to hear.
PM bid to bolster Afghan support
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox accused Gordon Brown of confusing military goals with governance and human rights issues which although "linked" were "different".Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox accused Gordon Brown of confusing military goals with governance and human rights issues which although "linked" were "different".
"He was right to say you cannot walk away - and if you cannot walk away that's it", Mr Fox told the BBC News Channel."He was right to say you cannot walk away - and if you cannot walk away that's it", Mr Fox told the BBC News Channel.
"We want to see the Karzai government dealing with corruption but remember where the Karzai government is... corruption is endemic in that part of the world. It will take a long time for people to turn round how they carry out their affairs.""We want to see the Karzai government dealing with corruption but remember where the Karzai government is... corruption is endemic in that part of the world. It will take a long time for people to turn round how they carry out their affairs."
He added: "I think we have to be very clear about what it is we are trying to achieve and not mix the messages."He added: "I think we have to be very clear about what it is we are trying to achieve and not mix the messages."
The Liberal Democrats have said a comprehensive change in strategy is required to make headway in Afghanistan.The Liberal Democrats have said a comprehensive change in strategy is required to make headway in Afghanistan.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "The prime minister has finally acknowledged that the British people will always back our brave British troops in the dangerous work they do, but they will not unconditionally support soldiers being sent to fight and die for a corrupt and illegitimate government in Kabul.Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "The prime minister has finally acknowledged that the British people will always back our brave British troops in the dangerous work they do, but they will not unconditionally support soldiers being sent to fight and die for a corrupt and illegitimate government in Kabul.
"Since he entered No 10, Gordon Brown has failed to explain to the British people why we are in Afghanistan and how we are going to succeed.
"The brutal truth is that we will not succeed in Afghanistan without a new and workable international plan covering everything from our military tactics to political reconciliation.""The brutal truth is that we will not succeed in Afghanistan without a new and workable international plan covering everything from our military tactics to political reconciliation."
The House of Lords is currently debating the condition of Britain's armed forces.