http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iWNHUDsECdtY8gn-ic-ix2G_a5CQ4 hours ago
BERLIN - German troops are staying in the calmer northern regions of Afghanistan, the defence minister said Friday, despite pleas from Canada and the United States for more military muscle to help fight insurgents in the south.
"I have a clear mandate from the German parliament," German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung told reporters Friday.
"It consists of 3,500 soldiers serving along the northern border and only helping out in the south for a limited period of time, as needed."
Jung made the remarks in response to a letter from U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates seeking more substantial help in the volatile south of Afghanistan.
Troops from Canada, Britain, the Netherlands and the United States have borne the brunt of fighting the Taliban in the south, with support from Denmark, Romania, Estonia and non-NATO nation Australia.
Ottawa is looking to allies for 1,000 more troops and additional equipment for southern Afghanistan as Parliament debates whether to extend the Canadian military mission beyond February 2009.
Washington said it had no plans to send more U.S. troops beyond the decision last month to deploy 3,200 additional marines to Afghanistan, but promised to help Canada lobby other countries for reinforcements.