Clinton hopes for French troops in Afghanistan
AFP
WASHINGTON- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday voiced cautious hope that France would come up with more troops in Afghanistan as part of the new US-led strategy.
Clinton, who was in Brussels for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, said the transatlantic military alliance's chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, had hinted that France may be weighing additional support for Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (AFP/Georges Gobet)
"They do have significant numbers there now, but we hope that they will come forward."
France has 3,300 troops in Afghanistan and has welcomed the new US strategy on Afghanistan. But Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said there was no need to adjust France's troop levels.
President Barack Obama laid out a plan Tuesday to send 30,000 more US troops to Afghanistan but also to start pulling out forces in 2011.
Washington called on European allies and partners fighting alongside US troops in Afghanistan to find 5,000 to 7,000 soldiers to swell their ranks.
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