US to call up more than 50,000 reserve troops

The US is to call up more reserve troops to fight terrorism than orginally thought.

They will be needed to carry out duties both at home and in Afghanistan, under the orders of George W Bush.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says more than the planned 50,000 reserve troops may be needed after all.

He said the president had not ruled out committing the ground troops in numbers comparable to the 1991 Gulf War, when hundreds of thousands were deployed.

Mr Rumsfeld says American soldiers already in Afghanistan are advising anti-Taliban forces and helping them guide their bombs.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle says congressional leaders are satisfied with the military action so far.

"There may be a need for additional efforts on the ground, and if that's necessary I'm sure the president will brief Congress on the importance of doing it," he added.