Government criticised over Afghanistan equipment

By Luke Baker

LONDON (Reuters) - Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth faced angry questions in parliament on Monday over the shortage of vital military equipment in Afghanistan, where 15 British soldiers have been killed in the past two weeks.

The death of eight soldiers in a single day has shocked and angered the public and led opposition politicians to demand the government say what it is doing to get more helicopters and well-armoured vehicles to stretched frontline forces.

"The government must explain why our armed forces are having to do so much with so little," said Liam Fox, defence spokesman for the Conservative party, emphasising Britain's lack of heavy-lift helicopters.

"If we cannot move our forces by air, they are more vulnerable on the ground. How on earth did we get into such an unacceptable position?" he asked.

Britain has about 9,000 troops in Afghanistan, the vast majority of them in Helmand, a province in the south that has been a focus of fighting against Taliban insurgents.

Ainsworth said helicopter flying hours had been increased and additional helicopters and vehicles with heavier armour would be sent to the war zone -- next year.

"We have made great strides to increase helicopter capability and availability with a large degree of success over the last two years in Afghanistan," said Ainsworth, the third defence secretary in nine months.

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