.UK troops forced to pull out: Taliban
The reclusive leader of the Taliban has taken credit for a plan by British troops to pull out from a troubled southern district in Afghanistan, saying they were forced to withdraw by the militants.
A statement attributed to Mullah Mohammad Omar said Wednesday that British forces were pulling out from the violence-wracked Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand Province due to pressure from militant attacks.
"This is the start of the British forces' defeat in Afghanistan," a Taliban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, quoted Mullah Omar as saying.
"We defeated them in Sangin. They'll be defeated in the rest of the country soon," he added.
Under the new plan, British troops will hand over control of the troubled region to US forces. Taliban militants, however, warned that the US forces will suffer "the same fate."
The statement came out as UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox announced a plan by Britain to hand over control of the area to US forces by the end of the year.
Fox insisted that the move was not a withdrawal but a logical redeployment.
"This will simplify current command arrangements," he told the House of Commons.
The decision was announced as the UK has suffered its heaviest loss in the notorious Sangin district -- with almost 100 deaths since the start of the US-led war nine years ago.
The British government is under fire at home over the rising number of fatalities in Afghanistan. Opinion polls show that most Britons want their troops back home.
PressTV
A statement attributed to Mullah Mohammad Omar said Wednesday that British forces were pulling out from the violence-wracked Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand Province due to pressure from militant attacks.
"This is the start of the British forces' defeat in Afghanistan," a Taliban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, quoted Mullah Omar as saying.
"We defeated them in Sangin. They'll be defeated in the rest of the country soon," he added.
Under the new plan, British troops will hand over control of the troubled region to US forces. Taliban militants, however, warned that the US forces will suffer "the same fate."
The statement came out as UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox announced a plan by Britain to hand over control of the area to US forces by the end of the year.
Fox insisted that the move was not a withdrawal but a logical redeployment.
"This will simplify current command arrangements," he told the House of Commons.
The decision was announced as the UK has suffered its heaviest loss in the notorious Sangin district -- with almost 100 deaths since the start of the US-led war nine years ago.
The British government is under fire at home over the rising number of fatalities in Afghanistan. Opinion polls show that most Britons want their troops back home.
PressTV
posted by madtom at 8:26 PM
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