Czech deputies reject extension of Afghan force

Czech deputies reject extension of Afghan force
19 Dec 2008 19:39:41 GMT
Source: Reuters

PRAGUE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Czech deputies rejected a
plan to extend and expand the Czech military presence
in Afghanistan on Friday, rebuffing U.S. demands for
NATO nations to do more to combat worsening insurgent
violence there.

The cabinet fell two short of the 101 votes it needed
in the 200-seat lower house of parliament to approve all
foreign military missions, a record of the voting showed.

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Prague will now have to withdraw the more than 500 Czech
troops serving under U.S. and NATO commands in Afghanistan
within 60 days after Jan. 1 unless it finds a new way to
extend the missions. That would still require parliamentary
approval.

The vote also throws into doubt the presence of the 400-
strong Czech contingent in Kosovo, one of the foreign
missions covered by the failed measure.

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