America has a "modest" number of ground troops in Afghanistan, US defence secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld has said.
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Mr Donald Rumsfeld
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During a joint news conference with Britain's Defence Secretary Mr Geoff Hoon at the Pentagon in Washington last night, Mr Rumsfeld said the US did not rule out a more extensive ground troop operation.
"We do have a very modest number of ground troops in the country and they are there for liaison purposes," Mr Rumsfeld said, adding the troops were in the north of the country and were providing targeting information for air strikes.
Ground troops had also moved in and out of the south of the country.
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Mr Hoon said Britain did not have ground troops in Afghanistan.