U.S. Urges NATO Allies To Boost Afghan Fight

European nations held back from making major commitments at the meeting of NATO defense chiefs in the Spanish city of Seville, and Germany questioned whether more troops are the real priority.

New U.S. and British reinforcements mean the two allies will provide half a NATO Afghan force which has now grown to some 35,000 troops.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said "We have an opportunity this spring to significantly disrupt the increasing level [of violence] we have seen in recent years caused by the Taliban."

Many European nations argue their armies are already stretched by NATO, UN, and EU missions around the world and say that committing to send more troops to Afghanistan will threaten fragile public support for the mission in Europe.

(compiled from agency reports)