Brown visits troops in Afghanistan

11:05am Thursday 21st August 2008

Gordon Brown paid tribute to British troops fighting in Afghanistan, praising them as the country's true heroes.

The Prime Minister, who is to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, flew into Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand.

He told the troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade that they were in the front line against the Taliban and preventing terrorism coming to the streets of Britain.

He said: "You know that you are on the front line in the fight against the Taliban. You know that by what you are doing here you prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain.

"What you are doing is part of an incredibly important process of creating not only a terrorist-free Afghanistan but an Afghanistan where there will be democracy and people will have a stake in the future for the long term."

Mr Brown paid tribute to Corporal Barry Dempsey of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, who earlier this week became the latest British soldier to be killed in the conflict.

Before leaving Camp Bastion, Mr Brown visited some of the injured soldiers in the base field hospital.

He was briefed on the latest situation in the region by the commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, and the governor of Helmand, Gubal Mangal.

The Prime Minister was expected to use his meeting with President Karzai to press the need for the Afghan government to restore good governance and stamp out corruption.

He will also announce funding for a new radio station to help counter Taliban propaganda in the area.

Editor's choice