Troops in Afghanistan

LONDON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said government cooperation needs to be reined in in Afghanistan or he will order U.K. troops out of the theater.

Brown's warning to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who just won a second term in the post, comes as British public support for the fighting in Afghanistan flags.

Brown said the "continuing sacrifice" -- five U.K. solders were recently killed and 230 total have died in fighting in Afghanistan -- of the international community is contingent on the Karzai government's working to stop corruption.

British leaders are also waiting for U.S. President Barack Obama, who has been considering a troop-increase request from U.S. commanders in Afghanistan for more than two months, to say whether the United States will increase its military presence in the country.

Brown said Friday the overall mission in Afghanistan remains important since it represents a frontline against potential terror attacks by militants against British targets.

The United Kingdom has about 9,000 troops in Afghanistan. The U.S. force totals about 168,000.