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| UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan | UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan |
| (20 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. |
| 'Political surge' | |
| Meanwhile a soldier from 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards has died after being injured in an explosion in Helmand province - the 236th British fatality in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001, and the 99th this year. | |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has confirmed at least 5,000 additional Nato troops will be sent to the country. | |
| We are well trained and my soldiers will be meeting the challenges head-on with the appropriate kit and bags of determination Lt Col Nick Lock1 Royal Welsh UK soldier killed in Afghan blast Send us your comments | We are well trained and my soldiers will be meeting the challenges head-on with the appropriate kit and bags of determination Lt Col Nick Lock1 Royal Welsh UK soldier killed in Afghan blast Send us your comments |
| He told the BBC the eight countries to pledge extra forces include Turkey, Solvakia, Georgia and Portugal, but he believed others would follow. | He told the BBC the eight countries to pledge extra forces include Turkey, Solvakia, Georgia and Portugal, but he believed others would follow. |
| A Nato spokesman said there would be more announcements at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. | A Nato spokesman said there would be more announcements at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. |
| Mr Brown told the Commons the three conditions needed to commit UK troops 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 UK troops 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. | 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. |
| 'Britain's safety' | 'Britain's safety' |
| 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." |
| Conservative leader David Cameron warns against "raising false hopes" | Conservative leader David Cameron warns against "raising false hopes" |
| 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. | 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. |
| The prime minister also said the first districts could "potentially" be handed over to Afghan control next year depending on training and policing. | The prime minister also said the first districts could "potentially" be handed over to Afghan control next year depending on training and policing. |
| But Conservative leader David Cameron warned against setting a timetable for a handover to Afghan forces and the withdrawal of British troops. | But 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. | 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." | "Nor should we raise any false hope, or any false expectation amongst the families of British forces, that may later be dashed." |
| Among the regiments to deploy extra troops "shortly" is 1 Royal Welsh, which will form part of 11 Light Brigade. | Among the regiments to deploy extra troops "shortly" is 1 Royal Welsh, which will form part of 11 Light Brigade. |
| Lt Col Nick Lock, 1 Royal Welsh commanding officer, said: "We are well trained and my soldiers will be meeting the challenges head-on with the appropriate kit and bags of determination. | Lt Col Nick Lock, 1 Royal Welsh commanding officer, said: "We are well trained and my soldiers will be meeting the challenges head-on with the appropriate kit and bags of determination. |
| "We are grateful for the support from not only our families, but the general public - a huge source of morale for us all." | "We are grateful for the support from not only our families, but the general public - a huge source of morale for us all." |
| Newly arrived Merlin helicopters have been approved for operation a month ahead of schedule. | Newly arrived Merlin helicopters have been approved for operation a month ahead of schedule. |
| And Mr Brown said the number of mine-resistant Mastiff vehicles would have almost doubled by the end of the year, compared with August. | And Mr Brown said the number of mine-resistant Mastiff vehicles would have almost doubled by the end of the year, compared with August. |
| The amount spent from the Treasury reserve on equipment and support for each individual soldier would rise from £190,000, three years ago, to £400,000, he added. | The amount spent from the Treasury reserve on equipment and support for each individual soldier would rise from £190,000, three years ago, to £400,000, he added. |
| Mr Brown said the coalition was seeking a "major" expansion of the Afghan army from 90,000 to 134,000, with the aim that local forces would eventually assume sole responsibility. | Mr Brown said the coalition was seeking a "major" expansion of the Afghan army from 90,000 to 134,000, with the aim that local forces would eventually assume sole responsibility. |