US calls for more help from Nato

The US Secretary of State is in London as part of a charm offensive with Nato allies aimed at boosting troop commitments in Afghanistan.

Condoleezza Rice said only a small number of Nato nations had troops in the most dangerous areas of the country.

"We believe very strongly that there ought to be a sharing of that burden throughout the (Nato) alliance," she told reporters travelling with her.

Coinciding with Dr Rice's visit, Defence Secretary Des Browne announced that 16 Air Assault Brigade is to be deployed as the lead formation of the British forces in Afghanistan.

Mr Browne said in a Commons written statement that overall force levels would be "broadly unchanged", at about 7,700 following the switch-over.

The brigade - which includes the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, The Parachute Regiment - will take over from 52 Infantry Brigade in April in the latest six-monthly rotation of British forces.

Ahead of the meeting with Dr Rice, the Prime Minister told the Commons he would push for "greater burden sharing" by Britain's allies "not only in terms of personnel but also in terms of helicopters and other equipment".

Canada has already threatened to pull its 2,500 troops out of Afghanistan early next year if other Nato allies do not commit more troops.

And the visit comes as an international think tank, the Senlis Council, warned Afghanistan has been brought to the brink of a "precipice" and international military and development assistance must be stepped up urgently.

Also on the agenda in talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband is the appointment of a high-level figure to co-ordinate international civilian and military operations in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai rejected the candidacy of Lord (Paddy) Ashdown, apparently fearing he would become a viceroy figure.

An Oxfam report last week said a "major change of direction" was needed to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, while a US study warned that the war-torn country could become a "failed state".

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