British troops to begin patrolling Kabul streets

British troops are due to be on the streets of Kabul today for the first time in 144 years as a new chapter of Afghan history begins with a post-Taliban administration taking power.

The Royal Marines flew to Bagram air base last night amid continuing controversy over their arrival. The Northern Alliance, which took and holds Kabul, is openly resentful of the presence of foreign forces and had tried hard to limit their size and scope.

The deployment of a multinational peace-keeping force, due to follow the marines, is mired in disagreements between the contributing countries as well as the Alliance. Britain and the United States believe the marines can be deployed without an agreement because they were originally sent under Operation Veritas, the UK part of Operation Enduring Freedom, and are not subject to any conditions imposed on the soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force which was formally approved by the UN Security Council last night.

The force of about 80 British soldiers is expected to operate under the normal rules of combat engagement of Operation Veritas, allowing them to open fire in self-defence or if they believe their comrades' lives are in danger.

Last night's batch of 53 marines from Bravo Company of 40 Commando flew to Bagram, 32 miles north-east of Kabul, in a C130 transport aircraft from a Gulf state. They had flown there by Sea King helicopters from the assault ship HMS Fearless.

As The Independent reported yesterday, another 30 marines from B Company, as well as their commanding officer, had flown to Bagram on Monday night. Their presence had been kept quiet because of the sensitivity with the Alliance of more British forces coming in. Defence sources have also revealed that Kabul airport is being assessed as a possible site for the multinational force.

The marines will be based at the British embassy in Kabul and guard strategic points of the capital on the eve of the administration's inauguration ceremony, and escort foreign dignitaries amid fears that Taliban infiltrators may attempt to carry out a symbolic and highly publicised terrorist attack.

The deployment of the troops is also indicative of the West's future policy in the country. It is a public statement that the Tajik-dominated faction of the Northern Alliance will not be allowed to become Kabul's sole masters.

The last time British soldiers were in Kabul, in the middle of the 19th century, was during two bloody wars, one of which saw one of the worst military defeats in British history. In the end, Britain decided Afghanistan was too costly to hold.

Hashmatullah Moslih, an adviser to the outgoing president, Burhannudin Rabbani, told a German newspaper yesterday that Afghans were hostile to the idea of British troops on their soil because of Britain's past interference in Afghanistan, and would prefer the Germans to lead the force. But the British soldiers will be taking a "softly softly" approach. They will be travelling in soft-top vehicles and wearing berets rather than hard helmets in public. However the helmets will go on when necessary and their arms will include shoulder-held anti-tank weapons.

Yesterday, groups of armed Europeans in plain clothes, travelling in white Land Rovers, were seen checking various locations, including ministries, where the marines may be positioned. Tomorrow the interim administration headed by Hamid Karzai will take office in preparation for an election. There has been criticism of the composition of the governing body from Mr Rabbani, a Tajik, and the Uzbek warlord, Abdul Rashid Dostum. There is also opposition from Pashtun elements in the south.

Even yesterday the Alliance leaders were questioning the presence of a multinational force in their country, their role and the rules of engagement they will be operating under.

Younis Qanooni, the Interior Minister, says the marines should play only a supporting role to the Alliance's police and act only if called upon for assistance by the Alliance. Even the proposed guarding of government buildings by the British has brought resentment. The negotiating team for a multinational force, led by the British Major-General John McColl, was told by Northern Alliance commanders that their troops were perfectly capable of looking after the buildings.

The mood on the streets of Kabul, however, was different. Nearly all residents welcome any potent foreign force, of whatever nationality, to prevent a repeat of violence seen in the past between warlords. Akbar Ullah Rahim, a teacher, said: "I am afraid many of the people here have blood on their hands. Our fear is not that foreigners are here, but that they will forget us, just as they did when the Russians left."