Menu
03/04/2009
PM Offers to Send More Troops To Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered to send extra British troops to Afghanistan to provide security during the upcoming presidential election.
It is likely the temporary increase in military personnel would involve "mid to high hundreds" as opposed to thousands, British officials have said.
Mr Brown made the offer today at the 60th anniversary Nato summit in Strasbourg, but it would only be carried out if other countries were willing to also send military units to help security.
Currently Britain has 8,100 troops station in Afghanistan and it is expected the UK reinforcements would be sent to Helmand Province in the south of the country - the dangerous region where British troops are already fighting off the Taleban.
An official said: "There is obviously a risk of the Taleban wanting to disrupt these elections. The smooth running of these elections is clearly in our interests.
"The Prime Minister will be making clear in instructions that we will consider a temporary increase in our troop numbers to cover the election period subject to appropriate burden-sharing."
(JM/KMcA)
It is likely the temporary increase in military personnel would involve "mid to high hundreds" as opposed to thousands, British officials have said.
Mr Brown made the offer today at the 60th anniversary Nato summit in Strasbourg, but it would only be carried out if other countries were willing to also send military units to help security.
Currently Britain has 8,100 troops station in Afghanistan and it is expected the UK reinforcements would be sent to Helmand Province in the south of the country - the dangerous region where British troops are already fighting off the Taleban.
An official said: "There is obviously a risk of the Taleban wanting to disrupt these elections. The smooth running of these elections is clearly in our interests.
"The Prime Minister will be making clear in instructions that we will consider a temporary increase in our troop numbers to cover the election period subject to appropriate burden-sharing."
(JM/KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
03 July 2006
More troops for Afghanistan
More British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, amid increased fighting with Taliban fighters, according to reports.
More troops for Afghanistan
More British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, amid increased fighting with Taliban fighters, according to reports.
16 June 2008
More British Troops To Be Deployed To Afghanistan
An additional 300 British troops are soon to be bound for Afghanistan. The news will be confirmed later today after Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed the deployment, with Defence Secretary Des Browne due to give details in the Commons at 3.30pm.
More British Troops To Be Deployed To Afghanistan
An additional 300 British troops are soon to be bound for Afghanistan. The news will be confirmed later today after Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed the deployment, with Defence Secretary Des Browne due to give details in the Commons at 3.30pm.
23 February 2007
More British troops to be sent to Afghanistan
More than 1,000 extra British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, it has been reported. Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to announce details of the new deployment to the House of Commons on Monday. There are currently 5,600 British troops in Afghanistan, as part of Nato's 35,000-strong International Security Assistance.
More British troops to be sent to Afghanistan
More than 1,000 extra British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, it has been reported. Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to announce details of the new deployment to the House of Commons on Monday. There are currently 5,600 British troops in Afghanistan, as part of Nato's 35,000-strong International Security Assistance.
11 July 2006
UK to send extra troops to Afghanistan
Nearly 900 extra troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Des Browne has confirmed. The reinforcements will be sent to the Helmand province in the south of the country, where six British soldiers have been killed in the past month.
UK to send extra troops to Afghanistan
Nearly 900 extra troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Des Browne has confirmed. The reinforcements will be sent to the Helmand province in the south of the country, where six British soldiers have been killed in the past month.
26 January 2006
UK to send 5,700 troops to Afghanistan
The UK is to send almost 5,000 extra troops to Afghanistan by July in a £1 billion three-year deployment. Following Cabinet agreement Defence Secretary John Reid announced the move to send a "potent force" to Afghanistan in the House of Commons this afternoon.
UK to send 5,700 troops to Afghanistan
The UK is to send almost 5,000 extra troops to Afghanistan by July in a £1 billion three-year deployment. Following Cabinet agreement Defence Secretary John Reid announced the move to send a "potent force" to Afghanistan in the House of Commons this afternoon.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:There will be a mixture of bright intervals and a few showers. Best of the sunny spells will be near the North Coast. Feeling on the cool side. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
