Germany extends Afghan troop mandate

Germany's lower house of parliament has voted to extend by a year a mandate that allows the government to keep up to 4,500 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission.

The existing mandate was due to expire later this month and Chancellor Angela Merkel's new center-right coalition has opted to extend it rather than boost troop levels immediately.

The Merkel government has suggested it could raise troop levels after a conference in London next month, which is expected to set out a strategy for transferring security responsibilities to Afghan authorities.

Guido Westerwelle, German Foreign Minister, said, "We are ready -- and we are telling this to our allies too -- to do more for the civil reconstruction. Those who want a troop withdrawal prospect must do more for the self-sufficient security and must make his contribution for police to be trained in Afghanistan."