Top Czech officials discussed on Monday NATO's request for reinforcement of the Czech military mission in Afghanistan, the CTK news agency reported.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen last Friday asked the Czech Republic to send another 51 personnel to its mission in Afghanistan. He said 19 Czech soldiers should train Afghan troops, while the rest would work in two healthcare facilities.
The request was discussed by President Vaclav Klaus, Defense Minister Martin Bartak and Prime Minister Jan Fischer at Prague Castle.
The right-wing Civil Democrats (ODS) support the reinforcement of the contingent in Afghanistan, while the Social Democrats (CSSD) are opposed to it.
The Czech government previously proposed that another 55 people be sent to Afghanistan but they were to be deployed for other purposes.
According to original plans, 15 military policemen were to help train the local Afghan police, while 40 soldiers with two artillery radar systems Arthur were to patrol Polish bases in the province Ghazni.
The lower house defense committee, however, rejected this proposal last week.
Czech parliament has approved the deployment of up to 535 soldiers in Afghanistan for 2010, but it has yet to debate the NATO-demanded further reinforcement of the mission.
PRAGUE, March 8 (RIA Novosti)
