Czechs Back Smaller Rise In Afghan Troop Numbers

The previous mandate to station troops abroad expired at the end of 2008.

The Czech lower house of parliament agreed to extend troop deployments abroad in a compromise vote late on Wednesday, but an increase in troop numbers in Afghanistan was smaller than originally planned.

The United States has asked NATO nations to do more to combat insurgent violence in Afghanistan, on top of a large increase in U.S. troop numbers.

The Czech minority government failed to get enough votes in December for a plan to increase the 500-strong force in Afghanistan, which serves under U.S. and NATO commands, by more than 200 soldiers.

But in a new vote the parliament approved increasing the contingent in Afghanistan to around 580, while leaving its force serving in Kosovo unchanged at 430.

The previous mandate to station troops abroad expired at the end of 2008, and parliament's 'No' vote last month threatened to force the government to pull all troops back home within 60 days, including those in Afghanistan and Kosovo.