'Split with US on anti-terror war' denied by no 10

Downing Street has played down reports today that Number 10 officials have attacked the US’s anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Tony Blair’s senior aides have reportedly hit out at the way US forces tried to hunt down al Qaida terrorists.

But a Number 10 spokesman said: ‘‘We don’t recognise any of these quotes.’’

Officials accused US troops of ‘‘blundering’’ about during house-to-house searches for Islamic fighters, according to The Sunday Telegraph.

‘‘The Americans think they and the Pakistanis can just march in shooting,’’ one told the paper.

Americans did not understand the ‘‘sensitivities’’ involved in such tribal areas, where Britain has experience of operating, they said.

‘‘Using force will just backfire and increase sympathy for al Qaida,’’ the source added.

The Downing Street spokesman said: ‘‘Any suggestion of any split between us and the US in the fight against terrorism is completely wrong.

‘‘The whole campaign in Afghanistan has been characterised by us standing together. That is not going to change.’’