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PM meets troops on Afghan visit PM meets troops on Afghan visit
(about 1 hour 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 confronting the Taliban.He said the next few months would be "critical" and urged the Afghan government to take a bigger role in confronting 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, the headquarters of Nato troops in the south of the country.
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' I am terribly sorry for them losing their sons and daughters, as we are sorry for us losing our sons and daughters in Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan President
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."
This year alone, 100 British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan.
In a joint press conference with Mr Karzai, the prime minister said: "I feel for all of those families who have lost loved ones, particularly as we move towards Christmas."
He also paid tribute to troops who would be apart from loved ones back in the UK over Christmas.
He insisted Afghanistan's border regions were "the epicentre of global terrorism" and operations there were directly related to security on British streets.
Both leaders denied suggestions of a rift between them.
Mr Brown said his Afghan counterpart had offered to send 10,000 extra Afghan troops to be trained in Helmand, where most of the British forces were based.
There would also be 10,000 more Afghan police in Helmand and Kandahar, he said.
Asked about corruption in the Kabul administration, Mr Brown said Mr Karzai would present plans, including improvements to governance, to a conference in London next month.
Mr Karzai said he was "very, very sorry" when he saw British troops killed or wounded in Afghanistan.
He addressed the parents of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan, saying: "I am terribly sorry for them losing their sons and daughters, as we are sorry for us losing our sons and daughters in Afghanistan.
"But we have a job to do together and we must endure, as hard as it may be."
'Difficult year'
Late on Saturday night and early on Sunday, Mr Brown was briefed by senior military staff and met some of the regular troops.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.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.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."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". He acknowledged that casualty numbers had been high and paid tribute to their "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.But he said he felt more confident about the conflict following decisions by the US and Britain to send in more troops.