Brown Defends Afghan Mission

Gordon Brown has defended the UK's role in Afghanistan, in the wake of further troop fatalities and a key defence aide's resignation.

The Prime Minister's scheduled speech on the military mission was marred by MP Eric Joyce's decision to step down from the Ministry of Defence last night.

My Joyce criticised the government's handling of the war, claiming the growing number of military deaths could no longer "be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets".

"Nor do I think we can continue with the present level of uncertainty about the future of our deployment in Afghanistan."

However, Security Minister Lord West said he did not recognise the "confused" picture painted by Mr Joyce.

Yesterday, the MoD confirmed two more soldiers had been killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

One of the soldiers was from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, the other, Lance Corporal Richard James Brandon, served with the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

Today, the Prime Minister said the UK would not walk away from the region.

Stating the current mission is "right", Mr Brown claimed: "A safer Afghanistan means a safer Britain."

Apparently responding to criticism from Mr Joyce, Mr Brown insisted British troops are part of an international effort to bring peace to the Afghans and limit the threat from terrorists worldwide.

"Each time I ask myself if we are doing the right thing by being in Afghanistan and if we can justify sending our young men and women to fight for this cause, my answer has always been yes," he said.

(PR/KMcA)