Marine dies as PM visits

The marine died on foot patrol in Helmand Province, which the Prime Minister visited when he promised new kit and personnel to their mission. Brown has faced widespread criticism about the lack of equipment and support provided to our soldiers.

The death of the marine, who had not been named last night, was a tragic reminder to the Prime Minister of the human cost of the military operation. At home, there was more evidence of the grief caused by the conflict when Corporal Kevin Mulligan, of the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment, was laid to rest in his home town of Alloa.

Like the latest marine to die, Cpl Mulligan was caught in an explosion during a routine trip in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "This marine gave his life for his country and the freedom of the Afghan people; there is no greater sacrifice than this.

"Our deepest and heartfelt sympathies go to his family and loved ones."

The latest death means the Afghanistan conflict has claimed 208 British soldiers – more than were lost in the Iraq conflict and the heaviest toll of British troops since the Falklands War.

All summer, Brown has faced claims his government has failed to provide enough helicopters or support to deal with the Taleban insurgency.

Last week, British troops cleared 337 roadside bombs from some of the most dangerous roads in Helmand, where fighting has been fiercest.

Addressing the troops, Brown said: "Let me pay tribute to the courage, bravery, professionalism and patriotism of our forces."

British officials said they recognised the need for better-armoured vehicles and more helicopters and would provide them as soon as possible.

They said 270 new British armoured vehicles are due to arrive by the end of this year, along with 200 more counter-explosives experts. Surveillance flights will also be increased to reduce the threat of roadside bombs.

"We are doing everything in our power to deal with the explosives threat," Brown said.

The officials declined to say how they would respond to any US request for more troops, but a military commander indicated a temporary 700-soldier rise in British troop strength to 9,000 for the Afghan election could be made permanent.

Brown called for speeding up the training of about 50,000 additional Afghan troops – which would bring the number trained to around 135,000 – so the Afghans can assume a greater role in their country's defence.

Brown travelled with Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, and talked with senior commanders including US commander General Stanley McChrystal.

He said: "Let me pay tribute to the courage, bravery, professionalism and patriotism of our forces. This has been a most difficult summer in Afghanistan, because the Taleban have tried to prevent elections taking place.

"I think our forces have shown extraordinary courage . They know the reason we are here and that is our security at home depends on a stable Afghanistan – no return of the Taleban, and no role for al-Qaeda in the running of Afghanistan."

But shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "Improvised explosive devices are the single biggest killer of British forces in Afghanistan and this government has been woefully slow to provide our troops with the equipment they need to minimise the risk to them in a very dangerous environment."

Meanwhile, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has extended his lead in the election, according to returns from about a third of polling stations,

overtaking main rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Karzai leads by 46.3 per cent to 31.3 per cent – still short of the 50 per cent needed to avoid a run-off.

Soldier questions PM over troops' pay

LUNCHING with a group of Welsh Guardsmen yesterday at a British military base under a canopy in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, Gordon Brown was buttonholed by a young soldier over the question of pay.

Lance Corporal Dean Byfield, 20, asked why soldiers had to pay tax while serving in Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister explained that because Byfield was a British employee, his income would be taxed back home while he was stationed overseas. But Brown said the government would look at the issue of soldiers' salaries.

The paucity of soldiers' wages has been a bone of contention since it was revealed last year that some servicemen and women receive less than traffic wardens. A trained private soldier can expect around 16,000 with bonuses serving in Afghanistan taking pay to 22,000.