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PM visits soldiers in Afghanistan | PM visits soldiers in Afghanistan |
(30 minutes later) | |
Gordon Brown has visited British troops in Afghanistan amid a growing row over his evidence to the Iraq war inquiry. | Gordon Brown has visited British troops in Afghanistan amid a growing row over his evidence to the Iraq war inquiry. |
Downing Street told the BBC Mr Brown had rejected criticism from two ex-Army chiefs that as chancellor, he spurned requests for more equipment in Iraq. | |
No 10 also denied Conservative claims the PM was using the visit to divert attention away from the row. | |
During his trip the PM promised 2,000 more metal detectors and announced plans for a new light patrol vehicle. | |
'Disingenuous' | 'Disingenuous' |
The new military fleet would replace the controversial Snatch Land Rovers, which are vulnerable to attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). | |
Downing Street insisted the timing of Mr Brown's evidence to the Iraq inquiry and the trip to Helmand province were organised separately. | |
A long-running row between ministers and senior ex-Army commanders re-emerged on Friday after Mr Brown told the Chilcot inquiry that the military had been given everything it asked for during and after the Iraq invasion. | |
Lord Guthrie, ex-chief of the defence staff, said in the Daily Telegraph that armed forces had been denied a request for more helicopters. | |
And his successor, Lord Boyce, told the Times Mr Brown had been "disingenuous". |