Brown's plea for Afghan troops.

GORDON Brown is calling on allies to throw more troops into the fight for Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister says he will boost Britain's 9000-strong force in by 500 - if other members of the 43-nation International Security Assistance Force also step up their contribution.

And he said yesterday he is hopeful of securing a total of 5000 extra troops on top of whatever the US commits.

Brown added he had been contacting allies inside and outside Europe to ask them for their backing for the "Afghan-isation" strategy of partnering and mentoring Afghan forces, so they could eventually take over security.

The PM said: "We need our other NATO allies to help.

Commit "There has got to be burdensharing among the alliance and I am sending people around Europe to persuade other countries that they should commit more troops.

"We are having some success.

But there is a lot more that we have to do.

"We are the only country to have said we will provide more troops as things stand but I believe others will.

"Our strategy must be Afghan control of their own affairs. That will take time, but then British troops can start coming home."

President Barack Obama has been involved in lengthy consultations since the US military in Afghanistan called for up to 40,000 more soliders in September.

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ALLY HOPES: Brown