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Dutch cabinet falls in Afghan row | Dutch cabinet falls in Afghan row |
(30 minutes later) | |
The Dutch government has collapsed over disagreements within the governing coalition on extending troop deployments in Afghanistan. | The Dutch government has collapsed over disagreements within the governing coalition on extending troop deployments in Afghanistan. |
After marathon talks, Christian Democratic Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende announced that the Labour Party was quitting the government. | After marathon talks, Christian Democratic Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende announced that the Labour Party was quitting the government. |
Mr Balkenende has been considering a Nato request for Dutch forces to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2010. | Mr Balkenende has been considering a Nato request for Dutch forces to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2010. |
But Labour, the second-largest coalition party, has opposed the move. | But Labour, the second-largest coalition party, has opposed the move. |
Just under 2,000 Dutch service personnel have been serving in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan since 2006, with 21 killed. | |
Their deployment has already been extended once. | |
Where there is no trust, it is difficult to work together Jan Peter Balkenende | |
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 in August 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 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 Mr Balkenende. | The finance minister and leader of the Labour Party, Wouter Bos, demanded an immediate ruling from Mr Balkenende. |
Nato priority | |
The collapse of the government was announced after a 16-hour cabinet meeting. | |
Mr Balkenende had been considering the Nato request | |
The prime minister said there was no common ground between the parties. | |
"Where there is no trust, it is difficult to work together. There is no good path to allow this cabinet to go further," he said. | |
The launch in 2001 of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) for Afghanistan was the organisation's first and largest ground operation outside Europe. | |
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said six months ago when he began his job that his priority was the war in Afghanistan. | Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said six months ago when he began his job that his priority was the war in Afghanistan. |
As of June 2009, Isaf had more than 61,000 personnel from 42 different countries including the US, Canada, European countries, Australia, Jordan and New Zealand. | As of June 2009, Isaf had more than 61,000 personnel from 42 different countries including the US, Canada, European countries, Australia, Jordan and New Zealand. |
The US provides the bulk of foreign forces in Afghanistan, and President Barack Obama has announced an extra 30,000 American troops for Afghanistan. | |
The Pentagon has said the next 18 months could prove crucial for the international mission in Afghanistan, after more than eight years of efforts to stabilise the country. | |
Afghanistan remains a deadly place for foreign forces. | |
Suicide attacks on Afghan civilians and roadside bomb strikes on international troops are common, with the Taliban strongly resurgent in many areas of the country. | Suicide attacks on Afghan civilians and roadside bomb strikes on international troops are common, with the Taliban strongly resurgent in many areas of the country. |