LONDON: Britain's defence secretary has announced at a UN peacekeeping meeting in London that Britain will add 100 peacekeepers to its mission in South Sudan to help build a hospital.

Michael Fallon said Thursday that peacekeepers play a vital role in many parts of the world.

The meeting brought together senior ministers from 80 countries including US defence chief Ash Carter, who called for an increase in national commitments supporting U.N. missions.

Actress and UN special envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt also addressed the gathering, calling for prosecution of peacekeepers who commit abuses.

She called for a new approach to peacekeeping that has the "rights and protection and involvement of women at its heart."

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that he welcomed the commitments made by various nations during the London session, which will be followed next year by a similar event in Canada.

"The secretary-general is particularly encouraged by the pledges related to rapid deployment, including commitments by Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to maintain units at a high level of readiness," the spokesman said.

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