Britain doubles funding to Afghan anti-drugs effort

KABUL, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Britain, leading an uphill international drive to stem Afghanistan's huge narcotics' trade, said on Wednesday it was doubling its funding to the effort to $100 million and launching a bid to raise another $300 million.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw made the announcement after Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he was launching an internationally backed anti-drugs plan for 2005/06 next month.

The plan calls for a "credible targeted and verified eradication campaign", but reiterated the government's opposition to aerial spraying favoured by some in the U.S. administration.