Britain to increase troops in southern Afghanistan

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) Britain will increase its troops in the southern Afghanistan province of Helmand by about 800, Defence Minister Des Browne said today.

''By the late summer, personnel numbers in southern Afghanistan should settle at around 5,800,'' Browne said in a statement.

Britain has around 6,000 troops in Afghanistan, of which 5,000 are stationed in Helmand and 1,000 in Kabul.

Britain hands over command of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to the United States on February 4 and will reduce the British presence in Kabul by around 500 troops.

Reuters AKJ DB2000