NATO allies warned on 'burden sharing'

Gordon Brown has called for Britain's NATO allies to provide more assistance to the military campaign in Iraq.

The prime minister's comments came ahead of this week's summit of NATO leaders in Bucharest, Romania.

It is thought that France could bolster its presence in the country, but Britain wants other countries to do the same.

Brown told reporters that more than 40 countries were currently involved.

But he added that the NATO summit would focus on the contributions of different countries.

The prime minister called for "better burden sharing amongst our allies".

"Afghanistan is the front line against the Taliban, lets make no mistake about it," he said.

"If Afghanistan falls again to the Taliban it creates a vulnerability for the whole of the rest of the world.

"And if al Qaeda, as they are trying to do, make progress in Afghanistan, that is also a danger to the world."

Brown also said that the West must train local forces and give the Afghan people a stake in the future of their country.