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| Tribute to killed British soldier | Tribute to killed British soldier |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tribute has been paid to the first UK soldier killed in the build-up to a major new offensive in Afghanistan. | |
| About 4,000 British troops will join coalition forces in Operation Moshtarak to clear Taliban fighters from Marjah in Helmand province. | About 4,000 British troops will join coalition forces in Operation Moshtarak to clear Taliban fighters from Marjah in Helmand province. |
| The soldier, from 36 Engineer Regiment, died in an explosion in Nad-e-Ali district, central Helmand, on Monday. | The soldier, from 36 Engineer Regiment, died in an explosion in Nad-e-Ali district, central Helmand, on Monday. |
| Lt Col Roly Walker, of the Grenadier Guards, said it was a blow to lose someone doing such a dangerous task. | Lt Col Roly Walker, of the Grenadier Guards, said it was a blow to lose someone doing such a dangerous task. |
| 'Hearts go out' | 'Hearts go out' |
| The soldier, from the counter-improvised explosive device (IED) team, had been involved in an operation to clear a road of bombs and secure a junction. | The soldier, from the counter-improvised explosive device (IED) team, had been involved in an operation to clear a road of bombs and secure a junction. |
| Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand Success before surprise in Afghan operation Villages empty before Afghan push Ainsworth warns of war casualties | Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand Success before surprise in Afghan operation Villages empty before Afghan push Ainsworth warns of war casualties |
| Col Walker, commanding officer of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: "It's always a blow to lose somebody, particularly somebody of a specialist nature who was doing such a dangerous task. | Col Walker, commanding officer of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: "It's always a blow to lose somebody, particularly somebody of a specialist nature who was doing such a dangerous task. |
| "It really knocks us, but our hearts go out to their families and to all those who knew them." | "It really knocks us, but our hearts go out to their families and to all those who knew them." |
| The fatality follows the deaths of two British soldiers in an explosion on Sunday and means 256 UK personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001. | The fatality follows the deaths of two British soldiers in an explosion on Sunday and means 256 UK personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001. |
| A total of 15,000 coalition personnel are due to take part in Operation Moshtarak. | A total of 15,000 coalition personnel are due to take part in Operation Moshtarak. |
| The numbers would dwarf the largest British military operation so far in Afghanistan - Operation Panther's Claw - which left 10 UK soldiers dead and many others seriously wounded. | The numbers would dwarf the largest British military operation so far in Afghanistan - Operation Panther's Claw - which left 10 UK soldiers dead and many others seriously wounded. |
| Reduce risk | Reduce risk |
| Earlier, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said IEDs were stopping Afghan civilians leaving the area where the operation will take place. | Earlier, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said IEDs were stopping Afghan civilians leaving the area where the operation will take place. |
| Mr Ainsworth said the operation had been announced in advance in a bid to reduce the risk to ordinary Afghans. | Mr Ainsworth said the operation had been announced in advance in a bid to reduce the risk to ordinary Afghans. |
| Gordon Brown on talks with Karzai and "Afghanisation strategy" | Gordon Brown on talks with Karzai and "Afghanisation strategy" |
| "The last thing we want to do is to go into an area and inflict unnecessary civilian casualties. One is too many," he said. | "The last thing we want to do is to go into an area and inflict unnecessary civilian casualties. One is too many," he said. |
| But he admitted: "There is some evidence of people finding it difficult to leave, because of improvised explosive devices that have been planted and the dangers of the journeys involved. | But he admitted: "There is some evidence of people finding it difficult to leave, because of improvised explosive devices that have been planted and the dangers of the journeys involved. |
| "We will try to assist in any way that we can to enable civilians to leave the area. That's not only allowing them through our own checkpoints, but trying to clear routes so they can get out." | "We will try to assist in any way that we can to enable civilians to leave the area. That's not only allowing them through our own checkpoints, but trying to clear routes so they can get out." |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband was asked whether fewer lives would be lost in 2010 than in 2009, to which he replied: "I think the answer to that significantly depends on how this forthcoming campaign goes. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband was asked whether fewer lives would be lost in 2010 than in 2009, to which he replied: "I think the answer to that significantly depends on how this forthcoming campaign goes. |
| "2009 was a very, very bloody year and I think that a lot of lessons have been learned." | "2009 was a very, very bloody year and I think that a lot of lessons have been learned." |
| Insurgent base | Insurgent base |
| Gordon Brown said the aim of Operation Moshtarak was to root out "the hard line Taliban" while minimising civilian casualties. | Gordon Brown said the aim of Operation Moshtarak was to root out "the hard line Taliban" while minimising civilian casualties. |
| Speaking as he launched the UK's Civilian Stabilisation Unit - which will work alongside the military after the offensive - the prime minister said Marjah was one of the last remaining populated centres in Helmand that provided a base for insurgents. | Speaking as he launched the UK's Civilian Stabilisation Unit - which will work alongside the military after the offensive - the prime minister said Marjah was one of the last remaining populated centres in Helmand that provided a base for insurgents. |
| "The aim of Operation Moshtarak - which means in the Dari language 'together' - is that the Afghans and the coalition work together for peace, to drive out those lingering points of resistance from the Taliban," he said. | "The aim of Operation Moshtarak - which means in the Dari language 'together' - is that the Afghans and the coalition work together for peace, to drive out those lingering points of resistance from the Taliban," he said. |
| "To dismantle the bomb-making factories where IEDs are assembled to attack our troops and then, by dealing with the insurgents, to make the Afghan population secure." | "To dismantle the bomb-making factories where IEDs are assembled to attack our troops and then, by dealing with the insurgents, to make the Afghan population secure." |
| Speaking from Kabul, Lt Col Nick Ilich, who is also overseeing the training of Afghan soldiers, told the BBC what would be needed if Operation Moshtarak was to be a success. | Speaking from Kabul, Lt Col Nick Ilich, who is also overseeing the training of Afghan soldiers, told the BBC what would be needed if Operation Moshtarak was to be a success. |
| He said: "Success is when we have pushed the Taliban back, when the security forces have been able to clear the ground but more importantly hold it." | He said: "Success is when we have pushed the Taliban back, when the security forces have been able to clear the ground but more importantly hold it." |