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Most Germans want to pull out of Afghanistan-poll
23 May 2007 13:17:16 GMT
Source: Reuters
BERLIN, May 23 (Reuters) - Nearly two thirds of Germans want their troops to withdraw from Afghanistan after three German peacekeeping soldiers were killed over the weekend, a poll published on Wednesday showed.

Carried out on Monday by the Forsa polling agency for weekly Stern magazine, the poll showed 63 percent of respondents believe Germany's Bundeswehr armed forces should withdraw from Afghanistan compared to 35 percent in favour of remaining.

Two percent were undecided, Stern said.

The poll reflects the country's increasing unease about the situation in Afghanistan and the resurgence of the Taliban.

Three German soldiers were killed in a suicide bomb attack in northern Afghanistan over the weekend, sparking calls from opposition leaders and members of the Social Democrats (SPD), one of the two "grand coalition" parties, for withdrawal.

The Taliban and allies such as the al Qaeda network have stepped up raids in the past 18 months in Afghanistan despite the presence of nearly 50,000 foreign troops led by NATO and the U.S. military, as well as some 100,000 Afghan forces.

In that period thousands of people, including more than 200 Western troops, have died in the violence, the bloodiest since U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in 2001 in retaliation for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

With around 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, Germany is the third largest contingent in the NATO-led force.

Recent polls show Canadians are also becoming increasingly uneasy about their troops' involvement in Afghanistan.

During a visit to Afghanistan by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged countries to remain in Afghanistan until the country manages to stay on its own feet or else "terrorists" will strike again.
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Spanish riot police try to unchain demonstrators dressed as Guantanamo prisoners during a protest against the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in central Madrid, June 1, 2007. Rice reproached Spain in a visit on Friday for engaging Cuba, and said it needed to do more in Afghanistan.



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