28 Jul 2010

Tongan soldiers to guard British base in Afghanistan

8:56 pm on 28 July 2010

Tonga is to send a contingent of soldiers to Afghanistan in November this year.

Four rotations of 55 marines will form part of the guard at the main British base, Camp Bastion, in Helmand province over the next two years.

Tonga's involvement follows a request made by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, with Britain paying the costs associated with the deployment.