'More troops needed in Afghanistan'

Nov 17 2009

Nato countries have been urged to send more troops to bolster military efforts in Afghanistan.

Secretary-general Anders Rasmussen mounted a defence of operations in the region during an address to the organisation's Parliamentary Assembly in Edinburgh.

He said: "To my mind it is obvious - that if we were to walk away and turn our backs on Afghanistan, al Qaida would be back in a flash. They would have a sanctuary from which to launch their strategy of global jihad, a strategy that is directed first and foremost against us."