Brown’s favour to Obama: 800 troops off to war

UP to 800 more British troops are set to be sent to Afghanistan.

Gordon Brown's decision comes after President Barack Obama today called for EU nations to provide more help to the United States in the region.

The Prime Minister is due to tell Nato leaders tomorrow that Britain is prepared to increase the number of its forces in the country to about 9,000.

Mr Brown is expected to insist that the extra soldiers will only be sent if other nations increase their commitments in the battle against the Taliban and al Qaeda. However, there will be no extra French troops. The British reinforcement in Helmand province is expected to be temporary and is aimed at increasing security during presidential elections this summer.

A source told Evening Standard: "A democratic Afghanistan will mean more security on the streets of London and the rest of the country. We do not want to allow the Taliban to disrupt the democratic process in Afghanistan."

Defence Secretary John Hutton is said to be confident that leaders of other Nato countries, meeting today at a summit in Strasbourg, will offer extra resources for the mission in Afghanistan.