British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Monday to increase British troops deployed in Afghanistan from just over 8,000 to 8,300.

He made the announcement in a statement to the House of Commons after he visit Afghanistan last weekend. He said that British troops needed to help the Afghan army and police to "spread the rule of law" to "empty places" that support terrorism.

"Our role in Afghanistan is clear, to support democracy and confront terrorism at its source," he told the members of Parliament.

However, there needed to be "proper burden-sharing" cross NATO, he added. "Other countries are involved in the NATO mission but the burden is not shared equally."

Last weekend, Brown made a surprised visit to Afghanistan, coincided with killing of four British soldiers in Helmand province in two separate attacks carried out by Taliban militants.

During the visit, Brown announced 10 million U.S. dollars assistance for Afghan government for registration process of the coming elections and ensuring its held in 2009.

As the second major contributor in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, more than 8,000 British forces have been deployed in the war-torn nation, mostly in the poppy-growing and militancy-plagued Helmand to stabilize security there.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2008)