British prime minister Gordon Brown today called for coalition countries to back US president Barack Obama's plans to send an extra 30,000 troops to Afghanistan by sending more troops of their own.
"I call on all our allies to unite behind President Obama's strategy," said Mr Brown, who on Monday confirmed that Britain would send an extra 500 soldiers, taking Britain's troop level including special forces to around 10,000, to help tackle worsening violence and train Afghan forces.
"Britain will continue to play its full part in persuading other countries to offer troops to the Afghanistan campaign."
Mr Brown said a vital next stage would be a conference in London on Afghanistan on January 28th to which all 43 countries involved in the Nato-led action would be invited.
This would discuss the transfer of provinces to Afghan control, support "commitments by President Karzai on Afghan reforms to build up the Afghan army and police", and to secure further support from international partners, he said.
Britain's Chief of Defence Staff Jock Stirrup, the head of the country's armed forces, said he was delighted with the troop surge.
Reuters