Montenegro sends first troops to Afghanistan

Five officers already travelled to Afghanistan to prepare the mission, so Montenegro will have a total of 31 troops there, Latkovic said.

PODGORICA, March 8, 2010 (AFP) - Montenegrin troops were on Monday to head for the first time to Afghanistan, where they will join the NATO-led mission, a defence ministry spokesman said.

"A first contingent of 26 soldiers of Montenegrin army will be sent to ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission," Vidak Latkovic told AFP.

The soldiers from the former Yugoslav republic are to be based in northern Afghanistan under the direct command of German troops.

Five officers already travelled to Afghanistan to prepare the mission, so Montenegro will have a total of 31 troops there, Latkovic said.

In December Montenegro was granted its request to join NATO's membership action plan (MAP).