Czech Senate approves foreign missions in 2009

The upper house of Czech Parliament has approved a plan to deploy more troops to Afghanistan this year.

The upper house of Czech Parliament has approved a plan to deploy more troops to Afghanistan this year. Wednesday's vote in the Senate was 49-7 to increase the number of troops in the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan from 415 to 480.

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Another unit of 100 elite troops would continue to serve in Afghanistan with the US-led operation against al-Qaida and Taliban fighters, according to the plan. The plan still must be approved by the lower chamber of Parliament.

The vote is expected to be close. In December, opposition legislators blocked the government's proposal for a more ambitious increase of 230 soldiers in Afghanistan.