BRITAIN:British defence secretary Des Browne yesterday confirmed that more British troops are to be deployed to southern Afghanistan.
Mr Browne said the decision had been taken after efforts to persuade other Nato countries to help bolster the force in the volatile Helmand province failed.
"We are acutely aware that our armed forces, particularly the army, continue to operate at a high operational tempo, but we believe this additional commitment is manageable," he said in a statement released by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The government had been expected to announce on Monday that up to 1,000 extra troops would be deployed.
However, Mr Browne said he felt "obliged to clarify the situation" early after widespread media speculation.
Mr Browne disclosed that the matter had been discussed in cabinet on Thursday, and the "final details" of the force levels were now being drawn up by the MoD.
"The UK has always agreed that Nato needs more forces in these regions, where the Taliban challenge is most serious - in particular for a greater manoeuvre capability," he said.
"Nato must respond to this request, or we will put at risk everything we have achieved across Afghanistan in the last five years: the stability which has brought five million refugees home, the advances in democracy, the economy, human rights and women's rights."
Mr Browne added: "We have been trying hard to get other nations to live up to the joint commitment Nato made to Afghanistan and provide more forces, forces which are authorised to fight. We will continue to press. But we must be realistic.
"We have decided that it is right for the UK to provide some additional forces for the southern region."
The assessment that an additional commitment was manageable was based on "clear military advice", Mr Browne said. - (PA)