Czech forces to remain abroad for next two months

The government has approved maintaining Czech forces abroad over the period of next two months. The decision was made at an emergency session on Friday, after the lower house of Parliament rejected a proposal on the deployment of Czech troops in foreign missions in 2009. The proposal drafted by the Czech Defense Ministry envisaged reinforcing the country’s military presence in Afghanistan and maintaining 550 servicemen in Kosovo. Although Prime Minister Topolánek offered a number of concessions, the opposition overturned the proposal with the aid of a number of independents. Under the Czech law, the government has the right to maintain Czech forces abroad for a period of 60 days.