Hoon says British troops could support new govt

Britain favours a broad based, multi ethnic Afghan government and would be willing to commit troops to help such a regime take root, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said in New Delhi today.

Speaking just hours after Northern Alliance forces entered the Afghan capital, Mr Hoon said a pluralistic government had to be set up in place of the Taliban regime.

‘‘Once Afghanistan is rid of the Taliban influence, it’s important to establish an ethnically broad based future government,’’ Mr Hoon said after talks with Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes.

But Mr Hoon said Britain does not favour a government lead by the Northern Alliance, saying it would not represent all the ethnic groups.

The withdrawal of Taliban forces from Kabul had been largely peaceful and that was a big step toward building a united Afghanistan, he said. But the main challenge facing the Afghan people is to quickly put in place a sustainable government that can rebuild the war ravaged country.

Hoon suggested British forces could reinforce troops in Afghanistan or help with humanitarian tasks, if that would help the situation on the ground.

Part of the military strategy in Afghanistan was designed to pressure on those who harbour Osama bin Laden, the Saudi dissident who is the prime suspect in the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

‘‘What is important is that we deny Osama bin Laden and his close supporters space in Afghanistan, we deny him room to move and room to hide,’’ Mr Hoon said.

As the Taliban are driven out of city after city by the Northern Alliance, the room for bin Laden to manoeuvre will be increasingly restricted, although his precise whereabouts were not known, he said.

‘‘In time we will have intelligence and information about bin Laden’s whereabouts and someone in Afghanistan will surrender him so that he can face justice’’, Mr Hoon said.