By Xinhua,
London : Britain will send 300 more troops to Afghanistan to boost security in that country, Gordon Brown said Monday.
The British prime minister made the announcement in the House of Commons following his visit to Afghanistan last weekend.
He said more troops were needed to help the Afghan Army and the police to maintain law and order and to fight terrorism. Currently, there are 8,000 British troops in Afghanistan.
“Our role in Afghanistan is clear; to support democracy and confront terrorism at its source,” he told the members of the Parliament.
Brown’s visit coincided with the killing of four British soldiers in two separate attacks by Taliban militants in the southern Afghan province of Helmand.
During his visit, Brown announced a $10-million aid for the Afghan government to hold elections in 2009.
Britain is the second major contributor of troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.