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U.K. short on 'copters in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 4 (UPI) -- The British military in Afghanistan says their forces are short one-third of the helicopters that were pledged by NATO allies.

Lt.-Gen. David Richards, commander of the NATO force in Afghanistan, and Gen. Mike Jackson, Chief of the General Staff, both said last week that they needed more helicopters, The Times of London reported Tuesday.

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But in London on Monday, Tom Watson, a junior defense minister, told the House of Commons no formal request had yet been made to send more troops, helicopters or aircraft, but only for support staff and engineering equipment.

Regardless of their national source, the helicopter shortage is an irritant among NATO personnel, the report said.

"NATO governments were happy to agree with what was needed, but when the time came to offer helicopters we were faced with a big gap," one source told The Times.

Britain has about 3,300 troops, mainly in the violence-ridden southern province of Helmand, where Taliban resistance fighters have killed five British troops in recent days.

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