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Netherlands cabinet 'collapses' Dutch cabinet 'falls' in Nato row
(10 minutes later)
The Dutch government has collapsed over disagreements within the governing coalition on extending troop deployments in Afghanistan, media say.The Dutch government has collapsed over disagreements within the governing coalition on extending troop deployments in Afghanistan, media say.
The reports came following extensive talks between the coalition partners.The reports came following extensive talks between the coalition partners.
Christian Democratic Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende is considering a Nato request to extend the Dutch mission in Afghanistan beyond 2010.Christian Democratic Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende is considering a Nato request to extend the Dutch mission in Afghanistan beyond 2010.
However, the Labour party, a member of the centre-left coalition, has opposed the extension.However, the Labour party, a member of the centre-left coalition, has opposed the extension.
The collapse was reported overnight after a 16-hour cabinet meeting.
Just under 2,000 Dutch service personnel have been serving in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province since 2006, with 21 killed.
Their deployment has already been extended once. The troops should have returned home in 2008, but they stayed on because no other Nato nation offered replacements.
The commitment is now due to end later in 2010.
The Dutch parliament voted in October 2009 that it must definitely stop by then, although the government has yet to endorse that vote.
The finance minister and leader of the Labour Party, Wouter Bos, demanded an immediate ruling from the prime minister.