NATO says will send extra troops to Afghanistan

KABUL, Jan 25 (Reuters) NATO nations will send more troops to Afghanistan, the alliance's commander for the country said today, amid calls for more forces and funds by the organisation and US commanders to tackle the resurgent Taliban.

Violence was at a worst last year with more than 4,000 people deaths in Afghanistan, the bloodiest period since US-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in 2001.

NATO's International Assistance Security Force (ISAF) currently has more than 33,000 troops in Afghanistan while the US military has some 8,000 soldiers under its command in the country.

NATO forces commander for Afghanistan, General David Richards, said the member nations of the alliance are committed to sending more soldiers to the central Asian country soon.

''More ISAF troops are being committed to this campaign ...,'' Richards told reporters.

''I anticipate at least another brigade of combat troops from ISAF nations coming here shortly and more after that,'' he said.

The general did not say which nations will contribute troops for Afghanistan, where nearly 170 foreign soldiers were killed last year alone in the Taliban-led insurgency.

Opposition has surfaced in recent months in several NATO member countries about the presence of their troops in Afghanistan and for sending more.

Richards also said the United States government will provide the fledgling Afghan National Army with a ''huge amount of money'' this year, but he did not give any figure.

REUTERS MS PM1839