New British foreign secretary says no 'artificial deadline' for troops to quit Afghanistan

LONDON – LONDON (AP) — Britain's new foreign minister says both partners in the coalition government want British troops to stay in Afghanistan until their job is done.

Foreign Secretary William Hague says there are "no major differences" on Afghan strategy between the Conservatives and their junior partners, the Liberal Democrats.

The Lib Dems campaigned on a promise to bring Britain's 10,000 troops home within five years.

But Hague said Thursday the government would not set an artificial deadline. He says Conservatives and Lib Dems would "take stock together and come to a shared understanding of the situation."

Hague will visit Washington Friday for talks with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Britain has lost 285 troops in Afghanistan since 2001.