日韩精品久久一区二区三区_亚洲色图p_亚洲综合在线最大成人_国产中出在线观看_日韩免费_亚洲综合在线一区

  Home>News Center>World
         
 

NATO vows to press ahead with expansion in Afghanistan
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-10 09:26

NATO said it was determined to press ahead with a risky expansion into volatile southern Afghanistan and that it had drawn lessons from the deadly riots in the conflict-scarred country.

At least 11 people have been killed and five Norwegian soldiers with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) injured in riots ignited by the publication in European newspapers of cartoons satirizing the Prophet Mohammed.

"There is full commitment to take forward ISAF expansion into the southern provinces this summer," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said after talks with alliance defence ministers.

"That commitment will not waiver."

But the wave of violence has created new complications for the 10,000-member NATO-led force as it prepares to extend its operations into southern Afghanistan, a restive former Taliban stronghold.

A Taliban commander on Thursday offered a bounty of gold for anyone who kills a Danish, German or Norwegian soldier.

Denmark, where the cartoons were first published and which has been the focus of much Muslim anger, and Norway were among the most determined to stay the course.

"The slightest hesitation of ISAF to deploy its troops to the south will mean victory for the Taliban," said Danish Defence Minister Soren Gad, according to the notes of a NATO official at the talks.

The ministers, holding two days of informal talks in Taormina, Italy, lauded ISAF for showing calm under pressure, with particular praise going to the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in northern city of Maymana on Tuesday.

"The ministers applauded the extreme professionalism and restraint by Norwegian and Finnish troops" operating the PRT, de Hoop Scheffer said, but he conceded that the violence had forced a security review.

"It is an argument for NATO to look at our force posture and our force protection, not only that PRT but also elsewhere as well."

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld brushed off questions about the impact of the cartoon affair on efforts to stabilize Afghanistan as he flew in from Washington to this seaside resort in Sicily.

Nor would he be drawn on how it might harm the broader effort to win over Muslims in the struggle against Islamic extremists.

"I don't know," he told reporters traveling with him.

ISAF's move south, aimed at extending the reach of Afghanistan's weak central government, was top item on the agenda of the meeting, which was held under a blanket of security that included warships, helicopters, dogs and explosives teams.

The expansion was supposed to have begun in the spring, but has gotten off to a slow start because of a protracted debate in The Netherlands over whether Dutch peacekeepers should be sent into a potential combat situation.

The Dutch parliament finally gave the green light last week for the deployment of up to 1,400 Dutch troops as part of the expanded force, but the debate underscored European concerns about the changing nature of the mission.

Australia, Britain and Canada also are contributing troops for the expanded mission which will take ISAF from about 10,000 troops to about 18,000. Denmark and Norway are also expected to deploy a small contingent.

The United States commands a separate force of about 18,000 troops, which will shrink in size by about 4,000 troops.

Rumsfeld told reporters NATO was still planning to follow up the move into south later this year or next by expanding into eastern Afghanistan, the border area with Pakistan where resistance to the US-backed government in Kabul is fiercest.

The cartoon controversy is certain to surface again Friday when the ministers meet with their counterparts from seven Mediterranean rim countries, including Muslim and Arab nations plus Israel.



Annual severe winter season drill in South Korea
Muslim world protests over caricatures
Syrians protest over Mohammad cartoon
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

World Bank: Strong exports to spur growth

 

   
 

Gov't bureaux remain overstaffed, claims poll

 

   
 

Police apologize for discriminatory banners

 

   
 

Water environment boost before 2008 Games

 

   
 

Japanese sue gov't over history textbook

 

   
 

EU mulls media code after cartoon protests

 

   
  Bush: US surveillance helped stop attack
   
  Putin invites Hamas leaders to Moscow
   
  EU mulls media code after cartoon protests
   
  Japanese sue gov't over history textbook
   
  Kidnapped US reporter appeals for help
   
  At least 27 killed in Pakistan violence
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 性XXXX18精品A片一区二区 | 男人天堂中文字幕 | 国产91在线观看 | 久久久久中文字幕 | 国产精品视屏 | 天堂精品 | 久久福利电影 | 4hc44四虎www在线影院男同 | 四库影院永久在线精品 | 中文字幕在线免费观看 | 成人一区专区在线观看 | 色婷婷综合久久久中字幕精品久久 | 日本夜夜操 | 国产在线精品二区韩国演艺界 | 男人天堂99 | 99青青青精品视频在线 | 日韩三级一区 | 福利网在线 | 毛片国产| 美女用震蛋叫爽的视频95视频 | 久久一区二区三区99 | 久久9966e这里只有精品 | 两女互慰磨豆腐视频在线观看 | 成人福利在线观看 | 精品一区二区三区在线播放 | 久久精品一区二区三区四区 | 大开眼界 无删减 | 欧美日韩一区二区三区免费视频 | 欧美亚洲激情在线 | 日韩午夜在线 | 亚洲精品成人av在线 | 任我爽在线视频 | 久久加久久| 欧美阿v天堂视频在99线 | 精品国产一区探花在线观看 | 污视频网页 | 日韩精品一区二区三区中文字幕 | 久久久久网站 | 91久久国产露脸精品免费 | 成人日韩 | 95视频在线播放 |