Rome – Italy’s ruling coalition agreed Tuesday to withdraw as many as 400 soldiers from Afghanistan, dealing another blow to U.S.-led military efforts overseas, according to reports. The government already has committed to pulling out all its troops from Iraq by year’s end.
Premier Romano Prodi’s coalition approved pulling out as many as 400 of Italy’s 1,300 troops in Afghanistan.
The remaining soldiers will focus on civil duties, Communist Refoundation member Giovanni Russo Spena said after lawmakers met with Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema and other officials, the ANSA and Apcom news agencies reported.
Italy’s contingent is stationed in Kabul and Herat, but with NATO expanding its mission into Afghanistan’s volatile south, the government has been reviewing the level of its commitment.
Spena said Italian soldiers would remain engaged in Kabul and Herat but not participate in NATO’s expanding mission.
The compromise was aimed at satisfying radical leftists, who are seeking to have troops withdrawn.
It was part of a measure this week to extend the financing of Italy’s military deployments overseas. That measure must be approved by Parliament.
