Hutton plans to boost Afghan troops
Updated on 24 January 2009
Defence Secretary John Hutton has signalled his intention to send more troops and helicopters to bolster British forces in Afghanistan.
But the Ministry of Defence insisted no announcement on reinforcements was imminent, and described as "speculative" a report in the News of the World that Mr Hutton will send around 24 extra helicopters and 300 specialist mine-clearing troops to help in the fight with the Taliban.
With new US President Barack Obama expected to deploy a "surge" of as many as 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, Nato allies including Britain are coming under pressure to beef up their own commitments.
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