Brown spends night in Afghanistan
Updated on 13 December 2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown spends the night in army accomodation in Afghanistan as part of a surprise pre-Christmas visit to British troops in the country.
The Prime Minister slept in what aides described as basic dormitory style rooms at Kandahar Airfield, the coalition headquarters for the region, as he sought to demonstrate his commitment to supporting British troops serving in the country.
It was the first time a British premier had stayed overnight in either Afghanistan or Iraq.
Mr Brown said: "I wanted to be here with the troops to thank them for what they are doing.
"I wanted to see what it was like working with them."
Mr Brown was briefed late last night and earlier this morning by senior military staff in Kandahar as well as meeting regular troops and inspecting new equipment purchased for them in recent months. He later met Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who flew into Kandahar especially for talks.
The PM said the next few months would be "critical" and urged the Afghan government to take a bigger role in taking on the Taliban.
Last week saw the 100th British soldier killed in Afghanistan this year, prompting further controversy and debate over Britain's role in the country.
