Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Monday announced the size of Australian reconstruction team to be sent to Afghanistan is 240.

He said the 240 members of Australian Defense Force will head to the war-torn Asian country from July.

The team would be based in Afghanistan's Oruzgan Province as part of a Netherlands task group, according to Howard.

The decision was made by the Australian government in February.The latest boost will add the number of Australian troops deployed in Afghanistan to more than 500.

"It will be known as a reconstruction task force. It will work on reconstruction and community based projects as part of Australia 's commitment to securing a stable and democratic future for Afghanistan," Howard told reporters here.

Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said about half of the new personnel would be tradesmen and engineers, while the other half will be light infantry, including Australian Light Armored Vehicles (ASLAVs) and vehicles designed for demanding terrain.

The engineers would build water reticulation programs, roads, flood mitigation measures "and a variety of infrastructure projects, which are nominated by the Afghanis themselves," Nelson said.

Although as part of the Netherlands task group, "The Australian reconstruction taskforce will be under Australian command, their immediate protection will be provided by Australian infantry and cavalry," according to Nelson.

Australia sent 1,500-strong troops to Afghanistan in 2001 to take part in the U.S.-led war to topple the Taliban regime, but withdrew all its troops in 2002. It decided to redeploy troops to Afghanistan in July last year.

Source:Xinhua