Afghan president makes Brown leadership quip

Mr Brown paid tribute to Col Barry Dempsey, the latest British soldier to die in Afghanistan

Thursday, 21, Aug 2008 03:18

The president of Afghanistan make a joke about Gordon Brown's leadership struggle as the prime minister stood next to him a joint press conference today.

It came as Mr Brown told reporters the UK would do more to win the war in Afghanistan and train the national army there, in a surpirse visit to the country on his way to the Olympic closing ceremony in Beijing.

President Karzai, who faces several challenges to his leadership, made the comment when reporters asked Mr Brown about relations with his foreign secretary Dabid Miliband.

"Cabinet ministers plotting is nothing new. We have it in Afghanistan - although not my foreign minister," Mr Karzai said.

Earlier, the PM told troops at Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand, that they were "the heroes of our country".

"You know that you are on the front line in the fight against the Taleban," Mr Brown told troops from the 16 Air Assault Brigade.

"You know that by what you are doing here you prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain.

"You make our country proud every day of the week and every week of the year," he continued.

"You are truly the heroes of our country."

The PM also paid tribute to Col Barry Barry Dempsey, the last British soldier to die in Afghanistan.

Mr Brown spent a total of 90 minutes at Camp Bastion. He later visited a field hospital where he spoke to six injured soldiers.