British Army head: troops 'stretched'

British troops in Afghanistan are "stretched" but are winning the tactical battle against the Taliban, the head of the British Army said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

During a visit to Afghanistan, Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt told British Broadcasting Corp. television that due to simultaneous operations in southern Afghanistan and Iraq, soldiers were being deployed more often than he would like.

"The Army is certainly stretched," said Dannatt, adding that a maximum number of battle groups are now in service.

However, he said, troop morale was high and the Taliban _ who have been resurgent in the south of the country _ were being pushed back.

"With the training we've got, the equipment we've got, and determination, and leadership, we're winning our tactical engagements.

"Of course, tragically, we take casualties from time to time. I don't want to get into a numbers count, but the Taliban have taken a lot more casualties than we have," he said.

British forces have suffered 70 fatalities in Afghanistan since entering the country in November 2001.

Meanwhile, a Sunday newspaper reported that almost half of front-line British troops in Afghanistan have required significant medical treatment after a summer of fierce fighting in the southern Helmand province.

The Observer said more than 700 battlefield soldiers have needed transfer since April_ almost half of the 1,500 serving on the front line.

The newspaper said it had obtained the figures from senior military sources, and featured soldiers "patched up and sent back to the front line and who do not appear in official casualty reports".

The Ministry of Defense denied it was covering up casualty figures.

"It is ridiculous to suggest that we are hiding the number of casualties in theater. We routinely publish casualty figures for both Iraq and Afghanistan," the ministry said in a statement.

Official defense figures show Britain has taken 204 casualties in Afghanistan between April and the start of August.