LONDON — The head of Britain's army called for more troops and equipment in Afghanistan Friday, piling pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown over Britain's contribution to the war amid a surge in deaths.
General Richard Dannatt's latest intervention came after days of accusations that Brown's government is not supporting the forces enough. The government insists that the Afghanistan force has all it needs.
Dannatt added that cutting back the number of British troops in Afghanistan after next month's presidential elections from 9,000 to the previous level of 8,300 would be "the wrong thing to do".
Brown has been on the spot over Afghanistan since last week when its soldiers there suffered their blackest period yet, with eight dying within 24 hours.
Another British soldier died Thursday while on foot patrol in the southern Helmand province, the Ministry of Defence said, taking the figure to 16 this month.
Speaking on his last trip to Afghanistan before his retirement next month, Dannatt told BBC radio that he had a "shopping list" of equipment that he would take back to ministers in London.
He wants more focus on tackling the use of roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which have killed many of the troops who have died recently.
Dannatt also said there could be a case for a temporary boost to troops in the south but reiterated that while extra "boots on the ground" were needed, they could be British, American or Afghan.
"There may well be a case for what I would call a short term uplift... for about 12 to 18 months until the Afghan National Army can get the right strength down here," he said.
"It would be the right thing for us in the short-term for us to stay at 9,000, down to 8,300 would be wrong, militarily I'm quite sure about that... I couldn't sign up to that now".
Dannatt's comments seem to throw into question Brown's claim Thursday before a House of Commons committee that: "For what we're doing in Afghanistan we've provided the resources and equipment that are necessary... we will do whatever is necessary and what is right to equip our armed forces."
During the session, Brown repeatedly sidestepped questions on a newspaper report that the head of the armed forces had asked for 2,000 extra troops for Afghanistan but received only 700.
The main opposition Conservatives, who hope to oust Brown in elections next year, have repeatedly claimed that British deaths could be prevented if more troops were transported in helicopters rather than by road.
Their defence spokesman Liam Fox told BBC radio: "If we had a direct request from the head of the armed forces that they needed something specific... of course we would have to say yes to that".
It was revealed this week that Dannatt was ferried around by a US Black Hawk helicopter on his visit to Afghanistan. Foreign Secretary David Miliband insisted this was "normal" pooling of NATO resources.
Dannatt, known for his plain-speaking style, is due to retire next month and reports suggest he is poised to write a book critical of the British government's role in Afghanistan.
But he was unapologetic about his comments when asked if he felt he was fighting a war on two fronts -- in Afghanistan and with ministers in London -- in Friday's interview.
"I think some issues should be aired so they can be debated and I'm unapologetic as far as I'm concerned. If some think I've crossed the line, so be it."
Thursday saw the funeral of the highest-ranking British officer to die in action since the Falklands War in 1982, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, who was killed in Afghanistan.
The British death toll for the war is now 185, higher than for the Iraq war.
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