Europe reacts to Dutch gov't fall

Besides the collapse of the Dutch government, the war in Afghanistan has also raised disputes in many other European countries. But NATO says it will not intervene in discussions in the Netherlands.

On Saturday, NATO said it would not comment on the collapse of the Dutch government over its mission in Afghanistan. But it did say the operation there was a team effort.

James Appathurai, NATO Spokesman, said, "The secretary-general of NATO has not changed his position of course. For him the best way forward for the overall NATO mission would include a new smaller Dutch military mission as well."

A file photo of the Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende as arrives for the cultural event at Kurhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany, April 3, 2009. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/Files