Spain to send 200 more troops to Afghanistan

Madrid, Dec 2: Spain may send about 200 more troops to join its contingent in Afghanistan, bringing the total to more than 1,200 soldiers, the daily El Pais reported Wednesday.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was considering a troop increase after US President Barack Obama pledged to send 30,000 additional US forces to Afghanistan, putting pressure on NATO's other members to follow suit, according to the daily.

In September, Spain already decided to increase its troops in Afghanistan by 220 soldiers to about 1,000 permanent troops.

The eventual new troop increase would serve to step up security in Badghis province and to give more training to the Afghan army, according to the daily.