Deputies agree to extend until end 2006 Czech peacekeeping operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan

The lower house of Parliament has voted to extend until the end of 2006 ongoing Czech military and peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. Deputies also agreed to more than double to 150 the number of Czech soldiers and personnel dispatched to Afghanistan, where a Czech contingent will take control of the Afghan capital's airport. In Iraq, the Czechs will maintain about 100 experts either training Iraqi security forces or working at a British military hospital. The main opposition Civic Democratic Party agreed to the extensions but said they would like the Czech Republic to participate in fewer missions, in order to make better use of "limited resources".

Author: Brian Kenety