Afghanistan: Tonga agrees to send troops to Afghanistan after Gordon Brown asked for support

Australian News Network reports Tonga has agreed to send troops to Afghanistan, saying the fight against the Taliban will provide much needed jobs.

A contingent of 55 Tongan soldiers is expected to begin service in November - the first of 275 soldiers committed over a two-year period.

Tonga's Defence Services commander, Brigadier Tauaika 'Uta'atu has told the AFP, the former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote to his Tongan counterpart asking for support.