Britain says Afghan war 'winnable'

BRITAIN: Britain said Monday the war in Afghanistan is "winnable," despite its military death toll there passing 200, and as an opinion poll showed a majority of Britons oppose the fight against the Taliban.

After a weekend when five new deaths took the toll to 204, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said British forces could be scaled back in coming years, dismissing as "ridiculous" a suggestion they could be there for 40 years. But amid questions over that claim, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government faced growing calls from the public, press and anti-war campaigners either to pull troops out of Afghanistan altogether or support them better.

A poll released Monday said 82 percent of Britons believe the government is not doing enough to support troops in Afghanistan, compared to 12 percent who said support is sufficient.

London, Monday, AFP