German minister urges end to Afghan 'anti-terror' mandate

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany’s Foreign Minister called for ending participation of elite German troops in the US-led “war on terrorism” in Afghanistan, in remarks to appear in Monday’s issue of news weekly Der Spiegel.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who last month was named his Social Democrats’ candidate to challenge German Chancellor Angela Merkel in next September’s general election, said the plug should be pulled on the mandate for KSK soldiers serving with Washington’s Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The up to 100 German KSK troops, whom Berlin has made available for the anti-terror operation in Afghanistan since 2001, have not been deployed for the last three years, Steinmeier told Der Spiegel. “That is why the KSK element should be eliminated in the OEF mandate that is up for extension in November,” he said.