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Berlusconi: Int'l force should leave Afghanistan

2009-09-18 13:43 BJT

Special Report: Afghan presidential election |

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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says it would be best for international troops to leave Afghanistan soon. Italy lost 6 soldiers in the Kabul blast on Thursday.

Berlusconi says Italy had already planned on bringing home some 400 to 500 soldiers, the extra troops for the recent Afghan election.

But he re-affirmed that Italy's mission aims to help ensure that Afghanistan's military and police can combat terrorism by themselves.

Thursday's victims bring the number of Italian troops who have died in Afghanistan to 20.

Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister, said, "We are all convinced that the best for all involved is to leave as soon as possible, to no longer have a presence there. We have been there during the election period."

Editor: Zhang Pengfei | Source: CCTV.com