Afghan roadside bombs in Brown's sights
Afghan roadside bombs in Brown's sights
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Monday, 14, Dec 2009 05:41
By Richard James.
Gordon Brown has announced millions of pounds will be spent on new equipment for British troops to help dealing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan.
In a statement to the House of Commons, the prime minister said an extra £10 million would be spent on new handheld mine detectors, with £12 million already set aside for disposal robots.
Mr Brown spent the weekend in Afghanistan, becoming the first prime minister since Winston Churchill to stay overnight in a war zone.
Discussing his meeting with Afghan president Hamid Karzai in the last few days, Mr Brown said a new strategy in dealing with IEDs had been agreed.
The explosive devices are the main cause of fatalities among British troops serving in Afghanistan and the new measures will see Afghan forces trained to detect and disarm them.
Local people will also be contacted for help in providing intelligence on the explosives.
Mr Brown said he had been assured by military commanders during his trip that in two-thirds of British bases troops were now patrolling alongside their Afghan counterparts.
The prime minister added the beginnings of the political process needed to go alongside the military campaign were now being seen.
One hundred British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this year with the offensive in the country entering into its eighth year.