LEYTON and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen has urged his Labour Party colleagues to get on with delivering humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

The MP told a Labour Party meeting this week that the government should concentrate on helping rebuild the war-torn country instead of following the Americans into war.

He said: "The United States administration seems to be gung-ho and want to engage in new wars, perhaps in Sudan, Somalia or Iraq.

"Tony Blair promised, on behalf of the British Government, that there would be a huge humanitarian relief effort to help the Afghan people this winter and develop the country long-term from the devastation it has been reduced to by war and the Taleban.

"That promise needs to be fulfilled and thoughts of racing off to another war firmly rejected."

He added: "The wasr in Aghanistan has created the opportunity for a better future but now let's ensure that better future actually happens.

"Let's have peace this Christmas and long into the future, in Afhanistan and elsewhere."

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