Afghanistan: PM backs strategy as war death toll increases

Published on Saturday 11 July 2009 20:00

GORDON Brown was last night forced to defend his strategy in Afghanistan amid a storm of criticism over the growing loss of British servicemen.

The Prime Minister claimed that British operations in Helmand were "succeeding" at the end of the worst week for British casualties on the ground since the war began in 2001.

At the end of last week eight soldiers were killed in a devastating 24 hours, including five servicemen based at Ballykinler, Co Down, who were on the same patrol. Last night the Ministry of Defence said Rifleman Daniel Hume, 22, from 4th Battalion, The Rifles was among the dead.

The family of the Berkshire-born soldier said in a statement that "since joining the army he was the happiest we had known him, he had truly found his place in the world." His commanding officer, Lt Col Rupert Jones, described the soldier as an "exceptionally gifted young man".

The MoD also said Private John Brackpool, 27, of Prince of Wales' Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was one of those killed last week. He died from a gunshot wound following a battle with insurgents near Lashkar Gah. The father-of-one, would have been celebrating his 28th birthday yesterday. Lt Col Doug Chalmers, his battle group commander, said he was a "superb soldier", who had served in Kosovo and Iraq.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama said that his "heart goes out to the families of those British soldiers" killed, praising the "critical" contribution the UK had made to the international coalition.

The eight deaths saw the number of Afghanistan fatalities rise to 184, overtaking the 179 recorded in the Iraq conflict. "Despite the tragic losses, morale remains high," Brown said. "I can report the assessment of the commanders on the ground: that the current operations are succeeding."

As preparations were being made for stop-the-war protests this week, David Cameron, the opposition leader, said it was a "scandal" there were not enough helicopters to transport troops.

Read Col Bob Stewart's analysis here