More diplomats to fight extremism

Mr Miliband says he stands for "hard-headed internationalism"

More British diplomats are to be sent to the Middle East and South Asia to combat extremism, the foreign secretary has announced.

David Miliband says the number of staff in these areas will rise by 30% in an effort to engage more deeply with countries such as Pakistan.

Mr Miliband also pledged to spend an extra £80m over three years on counter-radicalism measures.

It is not clear yet where the extra staff will be recruited from.

Staff cuts

It is believed that the extra political officers in Pakistan and the Middle East will be told to build contacts with local people and gather information about radicals on the ground.

The Foreign Office has played down suggestions that the extra diplomatic effort in the Middle East and Asia would be delivered by cutting the number of staff in European cities, such as Paris, Rome and Berlin.

Since 1967 a two-state solution... has been the only way to establish both justice for the Palestinians and security for Israel. But it has become a more remote possibility David Miliband, Foreign Secretary

A spokesman said that it had not yet been decided where resources would be reallocated from, and that the additional staff could be reassigned from missions anywhere in the world.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Miliband told of plans to focus the Foreign Office's activities on four "key policy goals" which he said would "speak directly to the economic, social and security concerns of British citizens".

The goals include combating terror and nuclear proliferation, conflict prevention, climate change and increasing the effectiveness of international institutions like the United Nations and European Union.

He wrote: "(Gordon) Brown's administration is driven forward by what he calls 'hard-headed internationalism'.

"In 2008 we will show in word and deed what that means."

Important partner

In his first major newspaper article of the new year, Mr Miliband stressed that the new policy focus would not affect Britain's relationship with the USA, which he described as "our single most important partner".

And although the balance of power in the world order was tilting east, he said America's position as "the world's superpower" was not under threat.

On the Middle East, he said he hoped 2008 would be the year in which leaders on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict show "vision and leadership" to get the peace process on track.

He wrote: "Since 1967 a two-state solution - a viable Palestine alongside a secure Israel - has been the only way to establish both justice for the Palestinians and security for Israel.

"But it has become a more remote possibility."

He said that it was up to the US and European countries to underwrite the political compromises necessary in the region.