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Brown backs Obama's troop surge Nato must follow US example - PM
(30 minutes later)
The prime minister has welcomed US President Obama's announcement of a major troop surge in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged all Nato countries to "unite" behind the US in boosting the number of troops they have in Afghanistan.
Gordon Brown said in a statement: "I call on all our allies to unite behind President Obama's strategy." President Barack Obama has promised an extra 30,000 personnel will be deployed to the country by August.
President Obama has promised an extra 30,000 troops will be deployed to Afghanistan by August. Mr Brown promised the UK, which has pledged an extra 500 troops, would "continue to play its full part" and persuade other nations to follow suit.
The Liberal Democrat's foreign affairs spokesman, Ed Davey, said the move showed a change in policy, for which his party had been calling. Mr Obama said he wanted forces to start pulling out within two years.
In a written statement, Mr Brown said: "Britain will continue to play its full part in persuading other countries to offer troops to the Afghanistan campaign. His plans will increase the total American presence in Afghanistan to almost 100,000 by next summer.
'Further support'
But Mr Obama warned that the commitment would not be open-ended, setting out a timetable for Afghan security forces to be trained to a sufficient level to enable the US to start pulling troops out as early as July 2011.
Mr Brown said in a written statement: "I call on all our allies to unite behind President Obama's strategy."
He also said: "Britain will continue to play its full part in persuading other countries to offer troops to the Afghanistan campaign.
"A vital next stage is the London conference on Afghanistan on 28 January, to which all 43 coalition nations will be invited."A vital next stage is the London conference on Afghanistan on 28 January, to which all 43 coalition nations will be invited.
"It will offer an opportunity to agree a process to transfer provinces and districts to Afghan control; to make decisions on new civilian co-ordination in Afghanistan; and to support commitments by President Karzai on Afghan reforms to build up the Afghan army and police, and local governance; and to secure further support from international partners.""It will offer an opportunity to agree a process to transfer provinces and districts to Afghan control; to make decisions on new civilian co-ordination in Afghanistan; and to support commitments by President Karzai on Afghan reforms to build up the Afghan army and police, and local governance; and to secure further support from international partners."
Mr Obama's announcement came more than three months after the White House received a report from the US's top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, recommending about 40,000 extra soldiers were needed.
The head of the UK's armed forces, Sir Jock Stirrup, told BBC Radio 4's Today he was "delighted" by the US's move.
He added that Gen McChrystal's demand had been for 40,000 more troops across the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force, rather than simply from the US.
He said: "They [the US] are providing three quarters of what General McChrystal asked for...
"We [the UK] are actually putting in 1,200 more from the starting point from where General McChrystal based his assessment... They didn't ask for more and we didn't say 'no'."
Sir Jock added: "I expect the British contribution to remain centred in Helmand for some time to come, at the very least."
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said the US move showed a change in policy, for which his party had been calling.