DOWNING Street yesterday bolstered speculation that ministers have been pushing for an accelerated exit of British combat troops from Afghanistan to 2013, a year earlier than planned.
The current strategy is to withdraw the bulk of Britain's 9500 deployment in Helmand from their frontline role by the end of 2014, but reports suggest ministers, led by Chancellor George Osborne, are locked in intense discussions with military chiefs over their desire to see a withdrawal by the end of next year – saving the cash-strapped Coalition £3 billion.
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