国际英语新闻：British PM defends Afghan policy, calls for more help

LONDON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday defended Afghan policy, saying that Britain takes actions necessary to protect the country and promotes international security.

    During a speech outlining the long-term strategy in Afghanistan, Brown said the uncompromising core of the Taliban must be met with force and defeated, adding that "it is right that we play our part and do not leave the people of Afghanistan to cope alone."

    "Our strategy is part of wider international strategy," Brown said. "We must maintain pressure on al-Qaida in Pakistan and continue offensives in Afghanistan."

    Brown said the NATO coalition wants Afghan forces to take over duties undertaken by international troops. The more Afghans can take responsibility for security in the short term, the less coalition forces will be needed in the long term, he said.

    The prime minister admitted that Britain and the U.S. suffered heavy losses in August due to offensives against the Taliban. He said his government was committed to ensuring that British forces have the resources necessary to do their job in the months ahead.

    Brown also pledged extra 20 million pounds (33 million U.S. Dollars) to improve stability and security in Helmand province, saying that the new government of Afghanistan must retain the trust of its people.

    In addition, Brown also called on Britain's NATO allies to "play their part" in the war in Afghanistan.

    He said that other Western countries "must take their share of the burden of responsibility -- they must ask themselves if they are doing enough."

    The prime minister made the speech after Eric Joyce, a parliamentary aide to the defense secretary, resigned Thursday.

    Joyce said a time limit should be set on troop deployment.

    In his resignation letter, Joyce said: "I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can 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," he said.

    But Brown said he would not walk away, adding: "A safer Afghanistan means a safer Britain."

    Downing Street has been keen to stress that the speech was not a response to Joyce's resignation.

    On Thursday, the Ministry of Defense announced the deaths of two more soldiers in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of service personnel killed to 212 since operations began in 2001.