Berlin - The federal cabinet has decided to extend the Afghanistan deployment of the Bundeswehr. The soldiers are to remain further 14 months in the crisis region. The troop contingent will be increased from 3,500 to 4,500 soldiers.
In the afternoon, and addressed by the Bundestag with the application. Parlamet the final decision in mid-October.
The Bundeswehr has participated since the beginning of 2002 in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). This mission is now to be extended until the end of 2009. Thus, the government will not let the next mandate debate got into the federal election campaign. The cost for the 14-month extension is estimated at 688 million euros.
