Spain considers Afghanistan

2004-05-03 12:38

Madrid, Spain - Spain backed away on Monday from public assertions that it would double its troop contingent in Afghanistan.

"There is nothing decided," Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said in a broadcast interview.

Moratinos said Spain supported the peacekeeping mission there because - unlike that of Iraq - it had a United Nations mandate, was under the command of Nato and had the legitimate mission of fighting terrorism.

"Bin Laden is not in Iraq. Bin Laden is in Pakistan or Afghanistan," Moratinos told the Telecinco television network.

But the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is only exploring options for possibly increasing its 120-strong contingent in Afghanistan. "For now no decision has been made," Moratinos said.

Defence Minister Jose Bono had said through an aide on March 29 that Spain would double the contingent in August.

That assertion was viewed as an effort to deflect criticism of Spain for withdrawing its troops from Iraq unless the United Nations took over political and military control of the occupation.

Moratinos welcomed comments on Sunday from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that he expects the Security Council to adopt a new resolution authorising the multinational force in Iraq to remain after June 30, the US-set deadline for restoring sovereignty to Iraqis.

But Moratinos said it is not clear what mandate such a force would have nor whether the force would fall under UN command - a key condition Spain cited as a reason for recently withdrawing its 1 300 troops in Iraq.

The foreign minister said the new Socialist government stood by its decision to bring the troops home, which stemmed from a campaign pledge ahead of general elections last March 14.

Asked whether Spain ruled out sending troops back to Iraq, Moratinos said: "In life you can never say never. But let's say that for now we are not considering it."

Zapatero announced the withdrawal on April 18, saying he saw no sign his terms would be met. Troops returned home last week, although about a thousand Spanish soldiers remain in Iraq, packing up military hardware to ship home.

- AP