Zapatero speak on Spanish mission in Afghanistan

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has offered to speak to the Spanish parliament to explain details of the Spanish mission in Afghanistan.

As many as 92 Spanish military personnel have died in Afghanistan, where Spain has formed part of the United Nations mission in the country since 2002.

The last two Spaniards to die were two Civil Guards who were shot along with their translator on Aug. 25, by a driver who had links to the Taliban.

That incident caused the leader of the opposition Popular Party (PP), Mariano Rajoy, to demand Zapatero give details over the events and the work of Spanish troops in the country.

The Spanish military contingent in the country has just changed its base in the western province of Badghis, moving from San Atesh to close to the town of Ludina, with the aim of controlling the "Lithium" route, one of the main roads in western Afghanistan.

Zapatero had previously been expecting to speak about the Afghan mission in mid May, but was forced to postpone his appearance due to his government being forced to adopt emergency measures to deal with the economic crisis following a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers.

He will address the Spanish parliament on Sept. 15 in what is certain to be a tense event.

Source: Xinhua