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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan | UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has confirmed he will send 500 more troops to Afghanistan, taking the total UK deployment to over 10,000. | Gordon Brown has confirmed he will send 500 more troops to Afghanistan, taking the total UK deployment to over 10,000. |
| He told MPs all conditions had now been met to send the extra personnel and that eight other countries had also offered additional troops. | He told MPs all conditions had now been met to send the extra personnel and that eight other countries had also offered additional troops. |
| The UK force level will reach 9,500 but special forces takes this to 10,000. | The UK force level will reach 9,500 but special forces takes this to 10,000. |
| Mr Brown and Barack Obama are due to hold a video conference later, a day before the US president's likely announcement of 35,000 extra US troops. | Mr Brown and Barack Obama are due to hold a video conference later, a day before the US president's likely announcement of 35,000 extra US troops. |
| 'Britain's safety' | |
| Mr Brown told the Commons the three conditions needed to commit had been met, namely enough equipment, sufficient help from other nations and more local training for local forces. | |
| A political surge would follow the military surge, he added, with an enlarged and reformed Afghan police force and more effective and accountable local administration. | |
| He also said the terrorist threat from al-Qaeda would be addressed at its source - along the Afghan/Pakistan border areas. | |
| He said: "We should be failing in our duty if we didn't work with our allies to deal with the problem where it starts. | |
| "The safety of people on the streets of Britain requires us to deny al-Qaeda the space to operate across Pakistan and deny them the option of returning to operate in Afghanistan." | |
| Earlier on Monday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said the UK's armed forces had the vehicles and equipment needed to commit an extra 500 troops to the war effort. | Earlier on Monday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said the UK's armed forces had the vehicles and equipment needed to commit an extra 500 troops to the war effort. |
| A ministerial committee is believed to have been told by the chief of the defence staff supplies are adequate. | A ministerial committee is believed to have been told by the chief of the defence staff supplies are adequate. |