Sydney, July 7, SPA -- Prime Minister John Howard saidThursday he would consider increasing Australia's troopdeployment to Afghanistan, with a decision expected asearly as next week, AP reported. Australia sent 150 special forces troops to Afghanistan aspart of the U.S.-led war that ousted the Taliban andal-Qaida forces in late 2001, but now has only one soldierthere helping land mine clearing operations. Earlier this week, Afghan Foreign Minister AbdullahAbdullah called on Australia to send more troops and helpstem a rising tide of violence in the troubled CentralAsian nation. Afghanistan's ambassador to Australia, Mahmoud Saikal,also asked Canberra to send more troops and help bolstersecurity ahead of Sept. 18 parliamentary elections there. Howard said the request would be considered by the Cabinetnext week. "There's been a standing request from the government ofAfghanistan over quite a period of time to a lot ofcountries including Australia to send troops," he toldSouthern Cross Broadcasting on Thursday. "We are going tolook at it and if we do take a decision it will beannounced next week." Howard said he had discussed the idea with ForeignMinister Alexander Downer and Defense Minister Robert Hill,as well as military officials, but wanted to put the ideato the full Cabinet.--more1142 Local Time 0842 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/275169