• Most Popular
  • Most Shared

Australia to send extra troops to Afghanistan

Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:29pm EDT

CANBERRA, April 29 (Reuters) - Australia will send an extra 330 soldiers to Afghanistan, answering a call from close ally the United States for more troops to combat Taliban militants, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Wednesday.

The troops and a small number of police would help train Afghan security forces and secure coming elections, Rudd said.

They would bring Australia's military contingent in the country to around 1,550, making it the largest contributer outside NATO.

(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)


More from Reuters

Photo

Dubai World meets creditors, offers no proposal

DUBAI (Reuters) - State-owned Dubai World did not ask creditors for a standstill on its $22 billion debt at a meeting on Monday, adding to uncertainty for investors who have been in the dark for weeks and hurting local bank shares.

» More Top News
A woman shops at a Sam's Club store, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, in Bentonville, Arkansas June 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

The food-stamp economy

On the last day of every month, shoppers at Walmart load their carts with food and household items and wait for the midnight hour. Is this the new normal in America?  Full Article 

U.S.
Two men shake hands in a file photo. REUTERS/File

Let's make a deal

The battered M&A sector will make a tepid recovery in the coming year and three hot sectors will lead the way, according to a Thomson Reuters analysis.  Full Article 

Global Deals Review