Gates defends Nato troops comments

Mr Gates said the "alliance as a whole is not trained for counter-insurgency operations, even though individual countries have considerable expertise at, and success, in this arena".

In a press conference at the Pentagon, Mr Gates said sniping between allied commanders was legendary even in the Second World War, but added that the transatlantic alliance "is in Afghanistan together".

"Our allies, including the Canadians, the British, the Dutch, the Australians and others, are suffering losses as they demonstrate valour and skill in combat," he said.

"We must overcome in good faith and mutual respect the issues that provoke our alliance, and keep focused on the mission that unites us - ensuring a free Afghanistan."

In comments published in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, Mr Gates said: "I am worried we're deploying (military advisors) that are not properly trained and I'm worried we have some military forces that don't know how to do counter-insurgency operations."

Mr Gates said failings in the south were contributing to the rising violence in the fight against the Taliban. He added that while US forces in eastern Afghanistan "are doing a terrific job... I think our allies over there, this is not something they have any experience with".

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Mr Gates was not criticising any particular country, but was referring to discussions he had in a December meeting with counterparts from Britain, Canada and five other Nato countries whose troops are doing the bulk of the fighting in Afghanistan's violent south.

A spokesman for the UK Ministry of Defence said the newspaper had "mis-reported comments made by Defence Secretary Gates on the Nato mission in Afghanistan".

But Patrick Mercer, a Conservative MP and a former British Army officer, told The Times Mr Gates' comments were "outrageous".