Army reinforces protection of Czech troops in Afghanistan - Kuehnl

Defence Minister Karel Kuehnl said on Thursday that the military had decided to reinforce the protection of Czech soldiers in Afghanistan. The military is reacting to the outburst of violence in Muslim countries caused by the printing of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that are considered disrespectful by Muslims.

Four dozen Czech soldiers are serving in NATO's ISAF units in Northern Afghanistan, along with Germans and Danes. Czech soldiers also serve in international missions in other regions in which Muslim populations prevail - Iraq and the south Serbian province of Kosovo but no problems have been reported.