A Royal security expert says Prince Harry's attempt to serve with British forces in Afghanistan has handed a propaganda coup to radical anti-Western groups who will portray him as going from shooting grouse to shooting Muslims.

The year has not begun well for Afghanistan, with suicide bombings, fears of a deteriorating security situation and reports of an increased presence by Taliban forces throughout the country, say church-based relief agencies.

On the eve of Remembrance Sunday, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams described the Western-backed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a tragic mess which failed to conform to the principles of 'just war' theory and brought great suffering.

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While the global news agenda has moved on, UK-based development agency Christian Aid is asking people not to forget the ongoing victims of the tragic South Asia earthquake two years ago - and has pledged to continue its material support.

European governments - and particularly the UK government - should encourage peace talks between the Afghan government and insurgency groups such as the Taliban to find a way out of the current stalemate, according to Christian Aid.

Tens of thousands of people from a variety of religious traditions across the United States are preparing to fast on Monday 8 October 2007, as part of an initiative to pray and work for peace in Iraq. Non-religious persons will also join them.

Christian Peacemaker Teams UK, the London Catholic Worker, the Oxford Catholic Worker and Voices UK are organising a peace walk through London on Sunday 7 October 2007 to mark the sixth anniversary of the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.