London: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he is focused on reducing the number of British troops in Afghanistan, despite new calls to increase the number of forces there.

Brown said on Tuesday that he hopes to withdraw some British soldiers as Afghan forces become increasingly able to carry out security duties.

His comments follow the reported assessment of the top US and Nato commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal. The American commander says more, not fewer, international troops are required.

Brown told GMTV television that training work with Afghan troops will "allow our force numbers to come down as we see the Afghan army going up."

Britain has about 9,000 troops based mainly in the southern Helmand province, the second-largest national contribution after the US.