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(News of the World) – TERRORISTS tried to KILL Gordon Brown during his visit to Afghanistan last week. Taliban fanatics were in position . . . and ready to SHOOT down his helicopter as he flew over the capital Kabul.
But the assassination bid was foiled with just MINUTES to spare when the two gunmen were spotted on a rooftop directly beneath the chopper’s flight path.
The drama unfolded in the early afternoon as Mr Brown was about to board the Chinook military helicopter at the British Embassy in Kabul after talks with officials at the end of his one-day trip. The PM, his closest aides, and a police and army protection team were just about to walk up the rear ramp of the Chinook when the alarm was sounded.
A security source said: “The Prime Minister was told two hostiles had been spotted with guns on a nearby roof. He was rushed back to the compound and local forces dealt with the situation.”
Reconstruction of Afghanistan is central to British foreign policy (Telegraph)
But as Afghan police rushed to the rooftop scene the two gunmen are understood to have realised they had been spotted–and escaped.
The PM spent another 45 minutes sheltering inside the embassy in the Kabul “Green Zone” until a massive security operation swung into action for the 10-minute flight to the city’s international airport.
American Black Hawk helicopters were brought in to provide extra protection during the flight from the centre of Kabul.
Brown makes surprise trip to Afghanistan as Taliban step up attacks
Angst for Gordon Brown … so whom does he threaten??
Georgia has felt the consequences of the conflict. It is important that the EU summit also demonstrates to Russia that its actions have real consequences.
No one wants a new Cold War or the encirclement of Russia. But when I spoke to President Medvedev yesterday, I told him to expect a determined European response. As FM David Miliband has said, there can be no return to ‘business as usual’ unless and until Russia commits fully to Georgia’s territorial integrity and withdraws to its previous positions.
THE WEST WILL NOT BE HELD TO RANSOM
Russia has emerged as a significant economic power, with its trade increasing fourfold. It has done so by reaping the benefits of a stable global order based on agreements that make trade and investment both possible and profitable, bringing greater stability and certainty to international relations. Equally, when Russia fights secessionist movements in Chechnya or Dagestan, it expects others to respect its territorial integrity and not to recognise declarations of independence.
So when Russia has a grievance over an issue such as South Ossetia, it should act multilaterally by consent rather than unilaterally by force. I believe Russia faces a choice about the nature of its responsibilities as a leading and respected member of the international community. My message to Russia is simple: if you want to be welcome at the top table of organisations such as the G8, OECD and WTO, you must accept that with rights come responsibilities.
Quite selective grievances forwarded by British PM Gordon Brown. Perhaps tough talk because of serious homeland problems for the Labour Party and the economic challenges of a housing market bubble collapsing taking down the British economy.
● Mortgage rescue fund as property slump gets even worse
● UK mortgage slump set to continue until 2011
Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) — U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said the British economy is facing the worst slowdown in 60 years and will not recover as quickly as originally forecast, the Guardian reported.
The ruling Labour Party has failed to connect to explain its mission and has left voters feeling frustrated with the government, the London-based newspaper cited Darling as saying. The chancellor said in an interview the next year will be critical for Labour, the Guardian reported.
