Albania to send additional troops to Afghanistan

Tirana - Albania said Wednesday it will increase its military presence in Afghanistan with an additional 85 troops. "We welcome the decision of the US President Barack Obama to raise the number of US troops in Afghanistan. Albania will contribute to this mission with an additional 85 troops," the Prime Minister Sali Berisha told reporters in Tirana.

Albania already has 250 soldiers in Afghanistan.

Local media speculated that Tirana might also accept another contingent of prisoners from Guantanamo base and that Daniel Fried, US special envoy for Guantanamo, arrived in Albania Wednesday for related discussions.