"The US commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has asked for 40,000 more troops, according to reports in Washington.

General Stanley McChrystal’s request was delivered to Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a meeting in Germany on Friday, The New York Times reported.

News of the recommendation emerged as another British soldier was killed in Afghanistan, taking total British fatalities since 2001 to 218. Three French soldiers and two American military personnel also died over the weekend.

General McChrystal handed made his request for more troops even though President Obama had failed to endorse his strategy for Afghanistan, which was laid out in a report delivered more than a week ago. Mr Obama is coming under pressure not to send more troops.

Mr Obama authorised another 21,000 US troops for Afghanistan as soon as he came into office in January and the last 6,000 from this surge are still arriving in theatre. " -Times Online

Link for complete story

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6851302.ece