First marines touch down at Bagram

The first Royal Marines arrived in Afghanistan today to join US troops in tackling Taliban and al Qaeda fighters still holding out in the mountains.

The Ministry of Defence said about 100 commandos flew into Bagram airbase. They are the first of 1,700 troops due be sent to the country to take part in the American-led war against terrorism. An MoD spokeswoman would not comment on when the remainder of the troops would be joining them.

Military spokesman at Bagram, Sergeant Steven Melbourne, said: "There has been some delay in getting equipment out here, but that now is starting to patch itself up."

The arrival of the first batch of marines comes as Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon warned that the battle group could be required to stay in Afghanistan longer than the three months expected.

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