Prescott: Taliban fall not our aim

The removal of the Taliban is not a "clear objective" of the coalition's air strikes on Afghanistan, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said today.

But the fall of the regime is a "possible consequence" flowing from its decision to give protection to Osama bin Laden, he added.

Standing in for Tony Blair at Commons question time, Mr Prescott was asked by Tory deputy leader Michael Ancram: "Can you confirm that the first objective of the current campaign in Afghanistan is now the removal of the Taliban?"

Mr Prescott replied: "The removal of the Taliban is not something we have as a clear objective to implement. But it is possibly a consequence that will flow from the Taliban clearly giving protection to Bin Laden."

The statement adds to confusion about British war aims. Different ministers have named varying objectives. On 2 October, Mr Blair warned the Taliban: "Surrender the terrorists, or surrender power. It's your choice." And 10 days ago Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the aim was to remove the Taliban as sponsors of terrorism. The destruction of the al Qaeda movement and Bin Laden have also been named as principal objectives.

However, President Bush and Mr Blair have been under pressure from Pakistan's leader General Musharraf not to remove the Taliban altogether because this would mean replacing them with the Northern Alliance, who he sees as the enemies of Pakistan.