BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 15, SPA -- NATO defense ministers agreed Friday to embed more instructors with Afghan combat units, but the offer fell short of what would be required to build up the army so it can replace the 50,000 international troops in Afghanistan. NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the eventual target was «to have the Afghan national forces in the lead.» «We do not have yet what we need,» he told reporters.«We will have to continue to keep up with the growth ofthe Afghan army.» He said seven allied nations agreed to set up moreembedded training units alongside about 20 alreadyoperating. France offered to create three, with a total of150 instructors. Italy, Canada, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia also committed training units. However, Appathurai said alliance commanders hope to set up at least 46 such teams, which commanders say areessential for building up the effectiveness of the Afghanarmed forces. The NATO ministers, who were meeting their Afghancounterpart, also stressed the need to avoid civiliancasualties following a series of fatal incidents involvinginternational troops, the Associated Press reported. «Tactics, procedures, rules of engagement will be keptunder constant review,» Appathurai said. «Ministersagreed on the need to investigate incidents promptly andtransparently.»--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/458974