Kabul, Afghanistan (AP) American marines have begun arriving at a base in southern Afghanistan in response to a call from Canada for more troops.

About 2,200 marines will be based in Kandahar. Canada has 2,500 troops in the province but is threatening to end its combat role in the country unless other NATO countries pitch in 1,000 extra troops to help the anti-Taliban effort in the region.

A NATO spokesman says the marines will conduct a “full spectrum of operations” to capitalize on recent gains in the area. In April or may, about 1,000 additional marines will be deployed to the south, where the insurgency is most active, to train afghan police and soldiers.