LONDON, July 3: Britain said on Monday that it would send extra troops and aircraft to southern Afghanistan if military chiefs asked for help, after clashes with Taliban left five soldiers of the country dead in three weeks.

The pledge came as Brig Ed Butler, the Commander of British forces in Afghanistan, revealed that he had requested extra equipment for his troops.

London has deployed some 3,300 soldiers in the south of the country, mainly in Helmand, where they are due to take over control of security from the United States military by the end of July as part of a Nato-led peacekeeping force.

Initial hopes to conduct the mission with minimal hostilities have been shredded as a stronger-than-expected Taliban resistance has put soldiers directly in the firing line, raising political pressure on Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Blair’s official spokesman told reporters: “If extra resources are needed, extra resources will be found, but that’s first and foremost a matter for military assessment and for military commanders to decide, not for politicians to decide.”—AFP