France is to send more military trainers and police to Afghanistan, the daily Le Parisien reported Friday, adding that special units already in the country and due to return to France would now stay there, DPA reported.

However, President Nicolas Sarkozy - in agreement with Germany - will not announce his response to a request from the United States for troop increases until the planned Afghan conference in London on January 28.

Including support forces in Tajikistan and in the Indian Ocean, French forces involved in Afghanistan officially number 3750 troops.

However the weekly Le Carnard Enchaine newspaper has reported that more than 4000 French soldiers involved in the conflict.