This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/5393030.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Most in UK 'oppose Afghan battle' UK majority 'oppose Afghan fight'
(30 minutes later)
Most people in the UK oppose British military operations in Afghanistan, a survey conducted for the BBC suggests.Most people in the UK oppose British military operations in Afghanistan, a survey conducted for the BBC suggests.
Only 31% support the decision to deploy 5,000 troops to fight the Taleban, while 53% of the population are against the move, according to the ICM poll.Only 31% support the decision to deploy 5,000 troops to fight the Taleban, while 53% of the population are against the move, according to the ICM poll.
Nato is extending its mission to cover the whole of the insurgency-hit nation.Nato is extending its mission to cover the whole of the insurgency-hit nation.
Meanwhile Defence Secretary Des Browne has rebuffed reports that commanders wanted soldiers withdrawn from Iraq to bolster the UK presence in Afghanistan.Meanwhile Defence Secretary Des Browne has rebuffed reports that commanders wanted soldiers withdrawn from Iraq to bolster the UK presence in Afghanistan.
"My view, and military commanders share this view, is that we have a vital job to do in Iraq. We have a responsibility to the Iraqi people."My view, and military commanders share this view, is that we have a vital job to do in Iraq. We have a responsibility to the Iraqi people.
"There is no division between us and military commanders about what we are doing at the moment," Mr Browne told BBC Radio 4's The World at One."There is no division between us and military commanders about what we are doing at the moment," Mr Browne told BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
Currently Britain has nearly 5,000 troops in Afghanistan - including 3,600 in the violent Helmand province - with a further 900 on the way.Currently Britain has nearly 5,000 troops in Afghanistan - including 3,600 in the violent Helmand province - with a further 900 on the way.
A separate development will see the 12,000 US troops involved in Operation Enduring Freedom - a mission in Afghanistan which is separate to the Nato deployment - coming under Nato control.A separate development will see the 12,000 US troops involved in Operation Enduring Freedom - a mission in Afghanistan which is separate to the Nato deployment - coming under Nato control.
UK TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN 53% oppose British military operations31% support the UK's presence63% think troops are helping to battle the Taleban71% believe soldiers are part of the fight against al-Qaeda46% claim the military is trying to stop the flow of drugs Source: ICM poll for the PM programme on BBC Radio 4 UK TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN 53% oppose British military operations31% support the UK's presence63% think troops are helping to battle the Taleban71% believe soldiers are part of the fight against al-Qaeda46% claim the military is trying to stop the flow of drugs Source: ICM poll for the PM programme on BBC Radio 4 href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/5392988.stm" class="">Nato chief defends plans
The decision will give the alliance a total of 32,000 soldiers.The decision will give the alliance a total of 32,000 soldiers.
Asked why British troops were fighting in Afghanistan, 63% said it was to help the Afghan government fight the Taleban.Asked why British troops were fighting in Afghanistan, 63% said it was to help the Afghan government fight the Taleban.
Some 71% believed it was part of the international fight against al-Qaeda, while 46% thought they were focusing on cutting the supply of drugs from the country.Some 71% believed it was part of the international fight against al-Qaeda, while 46% thought they were focusing on cutting the supply of drugs from the country.
Mr Browne said he believed support for British military operations would increase "as we begin to see the results and improvements" of spreading the Nato force to all areas of Afghanistan.Mr Browne said he believed support for British military operations would increase "as we begin to see the results and improvements" of spreading the Nato force to all areas of Afghanistan.
'Spike of activity''Spike of activity'
Conservative MP Mark Lancaster, a Territorial Army reservist who was called up to serve as a Royal Engineer for a two-month spell in Afghanistan, said the recent focus of the media had been on the "spike of activity" in Helmand.Conservative MP Mark Lancaster, a Territorial Army reservist who was called up to serve as a Royal Engineer for a two-month spell in Afghanistan, said the recent focus of the media had been on the "spike of activity" in Helmand.
"There's been very little coverage in the media of the reconstruction and development side," he told the PM programme on BBC Radio 4."There's been very little coverage in the media of the reconstruction and development side," he told the PM programme on BBC Radio 4.
"Progress is being made, but it's slow.""Progress is being made, but it's slow."
He also thought British forces were going to be in Afghanistan for "a very long time" and there should be "some political honesty on that".He also thought British forces were going to be in Afghanistan for "a very long time" and there should be "some political honesty on that".
But Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned that the mission in Afghanistan cannot be allowed to fail.But Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned that the mission in Afghanistan cannot be allowed to fail.
"Do please realise the consequences of Nato not being there, Nato failing and Afghanistan becoming the black hole, the hotbed for terrorism training and human rights abuses."Do please realise the consequences of Nato not being there, Nato failing and Afghanistan becoming the black hole, the hotbed for terrorism training and human rights abuses.
"The consequences of such a situation would be felt in London," he told The World at One, "because it [Afghanistan] would again be a nation which was exporting terrorism."The consequences of such a situation would be felt in London," he told The World at One, "because it [Afghanistan] would again be a nation which was exporting terrorism.
"We have to stay the course - we will stay the course and we will prevail.""We have to stay the course - we will stay the course and we will prevail."
The poll, commissioned by PM, saw 1,011 adults questioned over the past two days.The poll, commissioned by PM, saw 1,011 adults questioned over the past two days.