Britain to send 700 extra troops to Afghanistan to boost security for August elections

Britain to send 700 extra troops to Afghanistan

LONDON — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he’ll temporarily send 700 extra troops to Afghanistan to boost security for August elections.

Brown told lawmakers that Britain will increase its forces in Afghanistan from 8,300 to 9,000, but will reduce numbers to current levels by November.

He said Wednesday the troop increase forms part of a tougher approach to security in the border areas of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, a region he said is a “crucible of terrorism.”