Ambassador in bid to counter Taliban 'lies'

An ambassador is to fly to Islamabad to lead a joint British-American mission to counter "lies" put out by the Taliban.

American Kenton W Keith, as director of the coalition information centre in the Pakistan capital, will work alongside diplomatic efforts being carried out in the region.

The information centre, the brainchild of Tony Blair's adviser Alastair Campbell and President George Bush's press secretary Karen Hughes, was set up earlier this month in a bid to put the allied coalition's spin on events.

Mr Keith will bring the message that the coalition is determined to meet its objectives, on the diplomatic, military and humanitarian fronts, the Foreign Office said.

This will be in cooperation with governments in the regions and with non-governmental organisations and aid agencies.

Mr Keith, previously a career diplomat in the US Foreign Service, will join a team of officials from Washington and London.