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New effort to tackle Afghan bombs PM pledges £150m to tackle IEDs
(about 5 hours later)
Gordon Brown is to outline proposals to counter roadside bombs which have led to rising UK deaths in Afghanistan. Gordon Brown has announced that £150m will be spent on tackling improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.
The prime minister, who visited troops in Helmand at the weekend, will promise money for new equipment and a greater detection role for local forces. The prime minister, who visited troops in Helmand at the weekend, promised that Afghan troops would be trained to detect and disable the IEDs.
He will tell MPs an Afghan intelligence network to identify where the devices are made and deployed will be set up. He also told MPs there would be a new focus on gaining intelligence from ordinary Afghans on those making IEDs.
Meanwhile, the new bishop to the armed forces has apologised for saying the Taliban could be admired. Of the 237 UK personnel who have died in Afghanistan, 122 have been killed by explosives - most of them IEDs.
Defence spending Mine detectors
The prime minister said he would re-prioritise defence spending, with an extra £150m due to be spent on the UK's campaign in Afghanistan. The prime minister said he would re-prioritise defence spending, with an extra £50m to spend each year over the next three years on equipment aimed at countering the IED threat.
That will include an extra £10m to buy 400 hi-tech hand-held mine detectors.
There's a large number of things that the Taliban say and stand for which none of us in the West could approve Rt Rev Stephen VennerThere's a large number of things that the Taliban say and stand for which none of us in the West could approve Rt Rev Stephen Venner
It will come as part of a substantial change in defence priorities with more money being diverted to pay for equipment to target improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and more helicopters, says the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale. The money is also expected to pay for a specialist training base to be set up in Britain.
The cash, to be spent over three years, will see a specialist training base set up in Britain. Mr Brown told the House of Commons: "Afghan forces will now be trained to detect and disable IEDs.
The IEDs laid by the Taliban will be targeted with an additional £10m to be used to buy 400 hi-tech robot mine detectors. "There will be better intelligence from Afghan people about the source of IED planned attacks and encouragement not to harbour those planning attacks on British soldiers."
IEDs have been increasingly used by the Taliban since 2006 and are now being produced on an "industrial scale", according to the MoD. IEDs have been increasingly used by the Taliban since 2006 and are now being manufactured on an "industrial scale", according to the MoD.
COALTION DEATHS 237 UK troops have died206 as a result of hostile fire122 by explosions, mostly IEDs569 Isaf deaths attributed to IEDs Sources: iCasualties.org; MoD Growing menace of Afghan IEDs
Official figures indicated that of the 237 UK service personnel who have died in Afghanistan, 122 have been killed by explosives - most of them IEDs.
During his visit, the prime minister revealed British forces had destroyed almost 1,500 roadside bombs in the last six months.During his visit, the prime minister revealed British forces had destroyed almost 1,500 roadside bombs in the last six months.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is also expected to say a new centre will be set up in the UK to analyse aerial surveillance photographs.In an announcement on Tuesday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is also expected to say a new centre will be set up in the UK to analyse aerial surveillance photographs.
As part of the reallocation of funds, he is set to announce the closure of at least one RAF base and a scaling back of the UK sovereign base area in Cyprus, as well as cuts to the MoD Police and back office functions.As part of the reallocation of funds, he is set to announce the closure of at least one RAF base and a scaling back of the UK sovereign base area in Cyprus, as well as cuts to the MoD Police and back office functions.
COALTION DEATHS 237 UK troops have died206 as a result of hostile fire122 by explosions, mostly IEDs569 Isaf deaths attributed to IEDs Sources: iCasualties.org; MoD Growing menace of Afghan IEDs
Later on Monday, military families and former soldiers are due to deliver a petition to Downing Street calling for all British troops to be withdrawn.Later on Monday, military families and former soldiers are due to deliver a petition to Downing Street calling for all British troops to be withdrawn.
Joan Humphries, whose grandson was killed in August 2009, said: "Everyone knows now this is a pointless war, deeply unpopular in Britain and Afghanistan. Young lives are being sacrificed so that politicians can save face."Joan Humphries, whose grandson was killed in August 2009, said: "Everyone knows now this is a pointless war, deeply unpopular in Britain and Afghanistan. Young lives are being sacrificed so that politicians can save face."
Basic quartersBasic quarters
During his visit to Afghanistan, the prime minister inspected new equipment and held talks with President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar.During his visit to Afghanistan, the prime minister inspected new equipment and held talks with President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar.
Gordon Brown: "I am here to thank our troops"
At the Shorabak Afghan army base in Helmand, he witnessed the sort of training local forces are getting to deal with IEDs.At the Shorabak Afghan army base in Helmand, he witnessed the sort of training local forces are getting to deal with IEDs.
He is expected to tell the Commons that President Karzai has promised to step up the training programme so his forces can take over more of this role from allied troops.He is expected to tell the Commons that President Karzai has promised to step up the training programme so his forces can take over more of this role from allied troops.
Our correspondent said unusually Mr Brown spent the night in the country, rather than flying in and out in one day.Our correspondent said unusually Mr Brown spent the night in the country, rather than flying in and out in one day.
Gordon Brown: "I am here to thank our troops"
He slept in "basic quarters" at the Kandahar air base, the headquarters of Nato troops in the south of the country.He slept in "basic quarters" at the Kandahar air base, the headquarters of Nato troops in the south of the country.
Admirable qualitiesAdmirable qualities
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the bishop to the armed forces said the attitude taken towards the Taliban had been "too simplistic". Meanwhile, the new bishop to the armed forces has apologised for saying the Taliban could "perhaps be admired for their conviction to their faith and their sense of loyalty to each other".
Right Reverend Stephen Venner said the insurgents could "perhaps be admired for their conviction to their faith and their sense of loyalty to each other". In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Right Reverend Stephen Venner said the attitude taken towards the Taliban had been "too simplistic".
But he later told the BBC his remarks had been taken out of context and what he meant was that not all Taliban members could be regarded as equally evil.But he later told the BBC his remarks had been taken out of context and what he meant was that not all Taliban members could be regarded as equally evil.
He said he fully supported the armed forces and regretted any offence caused.He said he fully supported the armed forces and regretted any offence caused.