News

A British soldier, who faces a court martial for refusing to return to duty in Afghanistan, led a protest in London on Saturday organised by the Stop the War Coalition protest group.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton marched with former colleagues, military families and anti-war protesters, calling for British troops to be brought home.

UK police estimated that 5,000 people had attended the march, organisers had expected around 15,000.

Glenton released a statement before the march which read:

"When I went to Afghanistan I was proud to serve the Army and to serve my country, but before long I realised the Government was using the Army for its own ends.

"It is distressing to disobey orders but when Britain follows America in continuing to wage war against one of the world''s poorest countries I feel I have no choice.

"The Geneva Convention was launched after the Second World War and the Nazi extermination of six (m) million Jews. It means no soldier can say I was just obeying orders.

"Politicians have abused the trust of the Army and the soldiers who serve.

"That is why I am compelled and proud to march for Stop The War Coalition today."

A total of 222 British troops have died since operations in Afghanistan began.

In violence in Afghanistan on Saturday NATO forces announced that two Americans and one service member whose nationality was withheld died in attacks in the south.

Meanwhile, US troops killed four civilians when they fired on a van approaching their convoy on the main highway in southern Kandahar province, according to provincial officials and the US military.

The dead included two women and one child, Kandahar''s governor said in a statement. Four others were wounded, the statement said.

NATO officials have largely resisted American entreaties to boost their troop contributions to Afghanistan.

Britain recently pledged to send 500 more troops but only if NATO and the US increased their numbers as well.

The Obama administration is still mulling whether to approve McChystal''s proposed strategy aimed at eliminating insurgent threats by curbing the Taliban, in part by securing communities and protecting local Afghan people.