NATO To Send More Troops For Afghan Election

25 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- NATO says it is preparing to send an extra 2,000 troops to Afghanistan by 31 August to assist in security for next month's general and regional elections.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in a statement issued today that the forces will assist 9,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan in both ground and air operations "to enable an environment conducive to the successful conduct" of the 18 September polls.

Earlier on 25 August, Peter Erben, head of the joint United Nations-Afghan election commission in Afghanistan described the security situation as "stable" but "fragile."

Erben warned an upsurge in violence could disrupt the polls.

(dpa)