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More New Zealand troops leave for Afghanistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-12 09:35

WELLINGTON: Another deployment of New Zealand troops and police leaves on Monday for Afghanistan.

Related readings:  Regional summit to focus on ways to stabilize Afghanistan  US mulls additional troops to Afghanistan  Obama mum on adding more troops in Afghanistan  White House: US won't pull out of Afghanistan

Taskgroup Crib, with 145 personnel, is the fifteenth rotation since September 2003 to serve in the provincial reconstruction team in the Bamiyan province, Radio New Zealand reported on Monday.

Martin Dransfield said a major priority will be handing over the lead security role there to Afghani police, many of whom have been trained by New Zealand soldiers in the past seven years.

Dransfield said other priorities include health, educational, agricultural, flood protection and roading projects.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and Police Commissioner Howard Broad will be among those at Ohakea to farewell the taskgroup.