London statement on troop deployment to Afghanistan "due shortly"

London_(dpa) _ The British government will make an announcement on the long-expected deployment of troops to Afghanistan after a cabinet meeting Thursday, according to defence secretary John Reid.
Reid, speaking in parliament Wednesday, dismissed widespread speculation in the media that Britain would send a total of 3,500 troops to Afghanistan.

He insisted that he had not finally decided the details of the deployment to the south of the country, where Britain is to spearhead a NATO operation designed to aid reconstruction and "suppress the cultivation of illegal drugs."

Reid said he was "not yet satisfied" that Britain's NATO allies had committed the right troops to the operation, and would continue discussions with them over the next 24 hours before making his decision.

The size of the possible British contingent - in addition to the committment of 9,000 troops to Iraq - and questions about their precise role in fighting the counter-insurgency in southern Afghanistan, have featured in the British media for weeks.

While the "principle of deployment to the south" had already been announced, he would not provide details until he was satisfied that three conditions had been met, said Reid.

He needed to be satisfied that the British military configuration was sufficient to meet the task in hand, and that the economic development aid and money were sufficient to offer alternative livelihoods and development, said Reid.

"The third is that we have a NATO configuration of military troops around us which satisfies me," he added.

The remark was understood to be a reference to the position of the Dutch government, which has delayed the deployment of more than 1,000 troops to Afghanistan for security reasons.

The question of who will fill the possible gap left by the Dutch has not yet been resolved.

"The next 24 hours will determine the precise nature of the statement I make," Reid said Wednesday. dpa at sc