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US to add 30,000 to Afghan troops US 'adds 30,000 to Afghan troops'
(20 minutes later)
President Barack Obama is to announce that he is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, to deploy within six months, US officials have said. President Barack Obama is to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and deploy them within six months, US officials have said.
Mr Obama will make the much-anticipated announcement as part of a speech to the nation at West Point military academy.Mr Obama will make the much-anticipated announcement as part of a speech to the nation at West Point military academy.
He is also expected to lay out a rough timeframe for how long the main US military mission will last.He is also expected to lay out a rough timeframe for how long the main US military mission will last.
The US currently has 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, with foreign forces overall totalling more than 100,000.The US currently has 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, with foreign forces overall totalling more than 100,000.
Mr Obama's announcement comes amid growing domestic concern over the eight-year-old Afghan war.
The new troops are expected to focus on tackling the Taliban in the volatile southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan.The new troops are expected to focus on tackling the Taliban in the volatile southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan.
Mr Obama's prime-time speech to the nation on Tuesday comes amid growing domestic concern over the eight-year-old Afghan war.
Both the rise in foreign troop deaths and the chaos that followed August's general election in Afghanistan have fanned American concerns over the mission.
Earlier this year, however, the US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, warned that America risked failure in Afghanistan unless troop numbers were increased.
He requested 40,000 more soldiers.
Mr Obama has reached his decision after 10 top-level meetings with his military and political advisers.
The US president has briefed Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on the new military strategy.The US president has briefed Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on the new military strategy.
On Monday, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced he would send 500 more soldiers to the country. On Monday, Britain confirmed it was sending 500 more troops to Afghanistan, taking the UK's total deployment there to 10,000.