Afghanistan mission must be clarified by ministers - Moore

9.34.04pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 4th Sep 2006

Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Moore MP

Commenting on the death of another soldier in Afghanistan and Kim Howells' admission on the Today Programme that British forces were having to wage war on terrorists, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Moore MP said "The death of another British soldier in Afghanistan is a matter of profound regret.

"With the head of the Army saying our forces can only 'just' cope, we urgently need to know whether British troops have the manpower, support and equipment they need.

"Dr Howells' concession that British forces are having to wage war on terrorists means that ministers must urgently clarify whether the mission has changed and what exactly our troops are being asked to do.

"We need achievable goals and the military capabilities to achieve them. And we need a strategy that addresses not only security threats but the full spectrum of political and reconstruction needs."