German FM says to continue commitments in Afghanistan

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says his country will continue to carry out its commitments in Afghanistan, despite many Germans demonstrating against the war.

Guido Westerwelle, German Foreign Minister, said, "We can't withdraw our forces because the next day Afghanistan will be a place for international terrorists and this would be a danger to our security in Europe."

Meanwhile, more than a thousand Germans gathered in Berlin on Saturday to protest against their country's involvement in military operations in Afghanistan. Germany is planning to beef up its presence there where its 4,300 troops make up the third-largest contingent after the United States and Britain.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged another 500 troops, and has placed another 350 reservists on standby. Parliamentary approval is required to secure the plan in a vote scheduled next week.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle addresses the German Parliament Bundestag about the government's Afghanistan policy at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)