Germany May Boost Afghanistan Presence

German Defense Minister Peter Struck is considering increasing the number of German soldiers in Afghanistan, news reports said. A spokesman for the defense ministry said Germany is reconsidering the upper limit of 2,250 ISAF international protection troops currently allowed in the country, considering parliamentary elections due this summer and NATO planning. Germany may decide to increase this by 200 to 300 more soldiers, people close to the Defense Ministry told the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger newspaper.