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UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan
(21 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''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.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.
ANALYSIS By Caroline Wyatt, defence correspondent, BBC News Following constant negative headlines about shortages of equipment and helicopters in Helmand over recent months, the government is keen to show the 500 extra troops will have what they need before they are deployed. The number of armoured vehicles and helicopters has been increased to ensure all soldiers will be fully equipped for the operations they are asked to undertake. The recently-arrived Merlin helicopters have been given the green light for operations in Afghanistan, while more heavily armoured vehicles such as Mastiffs and Ridgbacks are now in Helmand. But the two remaining conditions depend on others. One is that Britain's Nato allies agree to send more troops to share the burden, while President Karzai must show his government's commitment to train and send more Afghan forces to fight alongside Britain's. The wait for those conditions to be met still leaves 500 British soldiers unsure exactly when they'll deploy.
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.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 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.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.""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."
Mr Brown said the troops would be deployed in "early December" and Britain's "highly professional" special forces would play their "full role" in taking the fight to the Taliban.
A Nato spokesman said details of which other countries had committed more troops was expected at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
Conservative leader David Cameron warned against setting a timetable for a handover to Afghan forces and the withdrawal of British troops.
He said: "We must never do or say anything that gives the impression to the Taliban that we will not see this through.
"Nor should we raise any false hope, or any false expectation amongst the families of British forces, that may later be dashed."
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.