'UK troops in Afghanistan could be cut by 2014'

British troop numbers in Afghanistan could be scaled back in five years as the Afghan army is strengthened, though some will have to stay behind in a support role, the British army's new chief said on Thursday. General David Richards, who took over as chief of general staff in August, told the BBC he agreed with the analysis by the US commander of international forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, that additional troops would be needed.
Troops numbers could be reduced once the Afghan army and police were trained in sufficient numbers to take over more responsibility in the fight against Taliban insurgents, he said. "We are in a period of risk where we haven't got enough troops in the round to do what we all know is required," he said. Britain currently has 9,000 troops in Afghanistan, but Prime Minister Gordon Brown last week said an extra 500 could be sent providing key conditions were met.