This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6388717.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| More UK troops for Afghanistan | More UK troops for Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The government is set to announce that more British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, the BBC has learned. | The government is set to announce that more British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, the BBC has learned. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to give details to the House of Commons on Monday of the substantial new deployment. | |
| The UK has been reluctant to send more soldiers to the country, having reinforced several times already. | The UK has been reluctant to send more soldiers to the country, having reinforced several times already. |
| But troop withdrawal from Iraq means more personnel are available to join the 5,000-strong force in Afghanistan. | But troop withdrawal from Iraq means more personnel are available to join the 5,000-strong force in Afghanistan. |
| Britain has recently revamped its operations in Afghanistan to put most manpower into Helmand province in the south, where the fighting is at its most fierce. | |
| Nato and British commanders have said for some time that more resources are needed if the Taleban are to be defeated. | |
| But until now the government has argued that countries like France and Germany should contribute more. | |
| According to a report in the Guardian newspaper, Mr Browne will announce an extra 1,000 troops, but that figure has not been confirmed. |