Gordon Brown's support for Afghan mission

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government tried to shore up public faith in the Afghan war effort yesterday after the death of eight British soldiers in 24 hours sowed doubts over the mission.

The surge in deaths has led to unprecedented soul-searching in Britain over the point of its intervention in Afghanistan and led to cracks in a political consensus in support of the war. The number of British troops killed in Afghanistan - 184 - now surpasses the British toll from the Iraq conflict.

Mr Brown and his Cabinet ministers fanned out to TV studios to reassure the public that a major British and US offensive against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province was succeeding despite the heavy toll.

Mr Brown told the British Forces Broadcasting Service: "I know that this has been a difficult summer so far and it is going to continue to be a difficult summer."

Asked if he was worried that the Helmand operation could become Britain's Vietnam, Mr Brown said: "The operation... is showing signs of success."