UK army chief: Afghan combat will reduce in 2011

The head of Britain's army says conflict in Afghanistan will decrease next year, but he expects Western nations to continue to help the country's government with development and security for up to 40 more years.

General David Richards, a former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that an offensive in southern Afghanistan involving US, Afghan and British forces is putting the Taliban under "relentless pressure." (AP)