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UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan UK bolsters forces in Afghanistan
(19 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has confirmed he will send 500 more troops to Afghanistan, taking the total UK deployment to 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 three conditions needed to commit had been met, namely enough kit, sufficient help from other nations and more local training for local forces. 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 prime minister said the troops would go in early December and special forces had been playing a "full role". 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 told the Commons the three conditions needed to commit had been met, namely enough kit, sufficient help from other nations and more local training for local forces.
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.