28 seconds ago 2009-12-11T17:09:48-08:00
LONDON (AFP) – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday he expected President Barack Obama to announce new US troop numbers for Afghanistan "in a few days".
"I've... talked to President Obama and I expect him to announce in a few days what his numbers for Afghanistan will be," Brown said, speaking at his weekly question session in parliament.
Obama was meeting with top US military brass and his national security team Wednesday to examine four strategic options as he nears a decision on whether to plunge thousands more troops into Afghanistan.
There are currently 68,000 US troops in the country out of a 100,000-strong NATO-led force. Britain has the second-largest contingent with 9,000 soldiers, but has promised to send an extra 500.
Washington has called for other NATO countries to send troops to Afghanistan to help share the burden of the mission.
The US, Britain and Canada are shouldering the brunt of the attacks by the Taliban in their stronghold of Helmand in the south of the country.
Brown said: "We're the first country to have agreed to send additional troops for the next stage of the mission in Afghanistan and we are seeking to persuade other countries to join us in this."
