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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| PM meets troops on Afghan visit | PM meets troops on Afghan visit |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has been visiting British troops in Afghanistan to show his support in the run-up to Christmas. | Gordon Brown has been visiting British troops in Afghanistan to show his support in the run-up to Christmas. |
| The prime minister inspected new equipment and held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar. | The prime minister inspected new equipment and held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar. |
| He said the next few months would be "critical" and urged the Afghan government to take a bigger role in taking on the Taliban. | He said the next few months would be "critical" and urged the Afghan government to take a bigger role in taking on the Taliban. |
| Unusually, Mr Brown spent the night in the country, rather than flying in and out in one day. | Unusually, Mr Brown spent the night in the country, rather than flying in and out in one day. |
| He slept in "basic quarters" at the Kandahar air base. | He slept in "basic quarters" at the Kandahar air base. |
| There are currently about one or two attacks a week by Taliban in the Kandahar area. | There are currently about one or two attacks a week by Taliban in the Kandahar area. |
| 'Difficult year' | |
| The prime minister said: "I wanted to be here with the troops to thank them for what they are doing. | The prime minister said: "I wanted to be here with the troops to thank them for what they are doing. |
| "I wanted to see what it was like working with them." | "I wanted to see what it was like working with them." |
| Late on Saturday night and early on Sunday, Mr Brown was briefed by senior military staff and met some of the regular troops. | |
| He was shown new mine-protected vehicles and unmanned aircraft, which are designed to protect troops from roadside bombs. | |
| During his visit, he revealed that British forces had destroyed almost 1,500 roadside bombs in the last six months. | |
| This year alone, 100 British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan. | |
| Mr Brown told troops: "I know this has been a difficult year." | |
| He acknowledged that casualty numbers had been "high" and paid tribute to the troops' "bravery, professionalism and dedication". | |
| But he said he felt more confident about the conflict following decisions by the US and Britain to send in more troops. |