Australia commits more Afghanistan troops

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CANBERRA, Australia, April 29 (UPI) -- Australia will boost its contingent of troops in Afghanistan by 450 to 1,550 soldiers, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

Rudd made the announcement Wednesday in Canberra in response to U.S. President Bararck Obama's call for more combat troops from NATO and other U.S. allies, CNN reported.

"Australia will not bow to the threat of terrorism in Afghanistan," Rudd said. "And we will continue to stand by our American ally in confronting this threat, because failure to do so would only compound the terrorist threat to Australian, American and other nationals at home and abroad."

The additional Australian troops will join 5,000 more troops pledged by NATO and the 17,000 new soldiers and trainers being sent to Afghanistan by the United States. The new U.S. forces will bring the American contingent in the country to nearly 60,000, CNN reported.