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LONDON - PRINCE Harry returned to England yesterday from a tour of duty in Afghanistan that has had jihadist groups baying for blood and calling for stepped-up attacks on British troops there.
His four-month deployment in Helmand province was cut short after news leaked out on the Internet that he had been secretly fighting the Taleban for 10 weeks.
The 23-year-old prince flew back to the Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton in central England to be greeted by his father, Prince Charles, and brother, Prince William.
'As you can imagine it's obviously a great relief as far as I'm concerned to see him home in one piece,' Prince Charles said before leaving the airbase. 'I'm enormously proud of what he has done.'
Prince Harry, a second lieutenant, had expressed disappointment at his early return, but defence officials said security considerations could not be ignored.
News of his deployment prompted Al-Qaeda websites to post death threats against him yesterday, even as army message boards carried unanimous praise for the young prince, who is third in line to the throne.
Al-Qaeda's al-Ekhlaas forum called for beheading of the prince and a video of his murder to be sent to the Queen, The Times of London said.
One posting on a jihadist website, which called for his abduction, said: 'Nothing will break the heart of his grandmother but only if she loses him.'
'The Royal Family is now directly participating in the aggression against Muslims,' Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taleban, told The Times of London. 'His presence encourages our fighters to launch more attacks on British forces.'
Defence sources confirmed that during his time in Afghanistan, the prince was not given any additional protection.
Once back in London, however, except when he is in a military environment where protection is already adequate, he is likely to be given extra security.
In an interview last week, Prince Harry acknowledged he could be a 'top target' for Islamist extremists in Britain after fighting the Taleban.
'Once this...comes out there'll probably be every single person, every single person that supports them will be trying to slot me,' he said.
He will be given leave while his superiors decide on the next phase of his career.
It seems unlikely that he will return to Afghanistan, and another option of sending him to Iraq with his unit was ruled out because of threats against him from Shi'ite militias.
The Defence Ministry said yesterday that Prince William - second in line to the British throne - is also likely to serve overseas with the military, probably on board a Royal Navy battleship.
Officials said he could be deployed later this year on a tour to areas including the South Atlantic, the Persian Gulf, the Pacific Ocean or the West Indies.
Reuters, AP
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