The international coalition would not turn its back on Afghanistan after the military conflict ended, Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, declared yesterday as British troops prepared to join a ground offensive.
Meanwhile, the Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, said the net was closing on Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network. And Downing Street sought to play down dissent among Labour backbenchers after the MP, Mr Paul Marsden, again defended his decision to reveal details of his row with the government chief whip. Downing Street declared the Prime Minister "doesn't have any trouble" with those who expressed views contrary to government policy.
In his speech at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Mr Straw spoke of a future Afghanistan where its people chose their own government and rebuilt the economic and social infrastructure supported by a "long-term, expensive commitment" by the international coalition and the UN.
Mr Straw said: "Our message to the people of Afghanistan is this: 'In the past, we have let you down. But we will not turn our backs on you again. We will work with you, to build a better future for you and your children'."
Referring to the criticism of the bombing by some Labour backbenchers, Mr Straw stressed there was a stark choice between "appeasing" terrorists and confronting them. "It should be obvious to all that there can be no appeasing of people whose values are so alien that they regard the taking of innocent life on a massive scale not as an unfortunate side-effect but as one objective of their actions," he said.
Mr Hoon also predicted the pressure being brought to bear on bin Laden by the US would achieve results "sooner rather than later".
Responding to reports that President Bush had authorised bin Laden's assassination, a spokesman said Britain would "act in accordance with international law. This is not a video game. If you are taking part in military conflict, then there are likely to be casualties . . . The cause is just."
The government denied trying to gag the Labour backbencher, Mr Marsden, from voicing his concerns over the war in Afghanistan. Mr Marsden yesterday published notes he took of a conversation with the Chief Whip, Ms Hilary Armstrong, in which he claimed she compared him to those who appeased Hitler in the 1930s.