Norway: Incoming gov't to pull troops from Iraq

The left-leaning coalition preparing to form Norway's next government said Thursday it plans to withdraw Norwegian troops from Iraq and from US-led op

The left-leaning coalition preparing to form Norway's next government said Thursday it plans to withdraw Norwegian troops from Iraq and from US-led operations in Afghanistan. The Nordic country has 20 soldiers in Iraq, 10 serving in staff-officer positions within the British and Polish contingents, and 10 involved in training Iraqi forces. The three-party Red-Green bloc said it would withdraw troops serving in the US-led "Enduring Freedom" operation in Afghanistan, but would increase its participation in NATO operations there. Norway has 369 troops in Afghanistan, mostly in the NATO-led international security force headquartered in Kabul. It also has special forces serving under US command, but the military has declined to reveal their exact number or duties.