More British troops sought in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- British Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth, visiting Afghanistan, faced repeated requests from British soldiers there for additional troops, officials said.

The requests to Ainsworth, who traveled with Home Secretary Alan Johnson, also included more equipment and training, the Times of London reported.

Their trip was meant to boost troop morale but the troops pressed on for additional reinforcements in support of similar calls from the new Army chief, Gen. David Richards, the report said.

Ainsworth was quoted as saying it would take time for more troop deployment with help from other NATO allies. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander of the U.S. and NATO forces, also has requested a troop surge in his Afghan assessment report.

"We can't meet General McChrystal's effort on our own. It has got to be a coalition effort," Ainsworth said.

The Times reported the British government and the rest of NATO are waiting for U.S. President Barack Obama's decision on McChrystal's request for 40,000 additional troops.

After spending Sunday with the British troops, Ainsworth and Johnson left for Pakistan, which is seen as the primary source of the most serious terrorist plots in Britain, the report said.