Cameron wants troops home from Afghanistan by 2015

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he wants UK troops out of Afghanistan within five years.

Mr Cameron, who is in Canada for the G8 and G20 summits, was asked whether he wanted the troops home by the next general election.

"I want that to happen, make no mistake about it," he said.

But, ahead of talks with US President Barack Obama on Saturday, he said he preferred not to "deal in too strict timetables".

During the election campaign Mr Cameron said he wanted to start bringing troops back in next Parliament, due to last five years.

Interviewed in Canada, he told Sky News: "We can't be there for another five years, having been there for nine years already.

"But one thing we should be clear about - Britain should have a long-term relationship with Afghanistan, including helping to train their troops and their civil society, long after the vast bulk of troops have gone home."

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Our forces will not remain in Afghanistan a day longer than is necessary

Prime Minister David Cameron Four killed in Afghanistan named

His aides said his comments did not suggest any new timetable for bringing troops home.

Mr Cameron spoke as four UK soldiers who died in an accident in Afghanistan on Wednesday were named by the Ministry of Defence.

Pte Alex Isaac, Pte Douglas Halliday, Colour Sgt Martyn Horton and L/Cpl David Ramsden were travelling in a Ridgeback armoured vehicle when it left the road and landed in a canal.

'Some stability'

Mr Obama wants a US drawdown of troops to begin next summer although US General David Petraeus and others have insisted that has to be based on conditions on the ground.

Asked about Mr Obama's preference, Mr Cameron said he preferred not to "deal in too strict timetables" but wanted to get on with bringing "some stability" in Afghanistan so its people can run their own country and troops could come home.

Two weeks ago Mr Cameron told MPs: "Our forces will not remain in Afghanistan a day longer than is necessary and I want to bring them home the moment it is safe to do so."

However he told them that while the threat from al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan had reduced - he had been advised it would increase again if international forces left.