Brown fires back after military row

By Adrian Croft

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended his record on Friday after an unprecedented attack by five retired defence chiefs who accused him of neglecting the armed forces and risking soldiers' lives.

The former armed forces heads accused the government of failing to provide the training and equipment needed for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In speeches in the Lords on Thursday, several singled out Brown, who was Chancellor for 10 years before becoming premier in June, for direct, personal criticism.

One said service members thought Brown had treated the forces with "contempt".

Asked about the speeches while on a trip to Africa, Brown said: "I've got nothing but praise for our armed forces. I visited them in Iraq and Afghanistan and what they are doing is some acts of great courage and determination and sacrifice.

"I want to see the armed forces properly equipped with the resources that they need. And that's why every year of this government we've been increasing expenditure on defence."

He said the government was giving the military an additional billion pounds a year for the next five years.

The Ministry of Defence says top serving officers do not share the views of the retired generals and admirals.