IN a speech setting him on a collision course with his own government Newport West MP Paul Flynn has called for British troops to be pulled out of Afghanistan and the opening of talks with the Taliban.

The MP who has a reputation as a rebel chose the day of a major policy speech by the prime minister Mr Gordon Brown to compare British operations in the war-torn country with the Charge of the Light Brigade.

"The role of the soldiers is to do or to die.

"If the deaths continue at this rate until October twice as many British soldiers will have died in Afghanistan than at the charge of the Light Brigade."

Mr Flynn, who has represented the constituency since 1987 has been a persistent critic of British involvement but his speech timed to co-incide with the prime minister's restatement of British objectives in the country is bound to raise hackles within his own party.

The MP chose his unveiling of a sculpture at the Ffwrrwm arts centre at Caerleon to unleash his attack which rounded upon the on provisional government of Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai and the belief of the two main political parties that a war against terrorism could be won by armed might.

Villagers interviewed by British troops regularly spoke of institutionalised sexual assaults by the government side against young boys he said.

Although British soldiers were as brave as any at any point in the Army's history there was no honour in supporting a corrupt regime and trying to force chance in a country where warlordism was a way of life.

"We are sacrificing lives because it seems to be the British way.

"There can be no miltary victory.

"The sooner a deal is done with the Taliban the fewer of our soldiers are to be killed.

"At the moment we have politicians whose mouths are bandaged by their own guilt.

"These are the people who said the situation could be resolved without a shot being fired."

After the speech Mr Flynn said he had written to the prime minister setting out his views but had not yet had a reply.

"Afghani fighters are not only willing to die fighting the feringi ( foreigners) from their country but also express the wish that their sons die in the same cause.

"When confronted with that the only way forward is to talk."