Defence committee votes not to back more troops for Afghanistan

The lower house’s defence committee has voted not to support a plan to increase the number of Czech soldiers in Afghanistan. The Czech government wants to send 55 more troops to the country, where there is already a contingent of over 500 Czech soldiers. Representatives of the Social Democrats and Communists on the defence committee either voted against or abstained during Tuesday’s show of hands. It is possible that the two left-wing parties will also block the proposal when it goes before both houses of the Czech parliament.