EU will send mission to train Afghan police

BRUSSELS, Feb 12 (Reuters) The European Union today agreed to send a mission to help train local police in Afghanistan, whose government is struggling with an Islamist insurgency.

''The mission will work towards an Afghan police force...that respects human rights and operates within the framework of the rule of law,'' the bloc's 27 foreign ministers said in a statement.

Brussels diplomats have said more than 150 police officers and about 60 experts are likely to take part in the mission which, according to the statement, will help ''address the issue of police reform at central, regional and provincial level''.

The estimated cost of the mission will be about 40 million euros (51.84 million dollars) for this year.

So far, Germany has been helping train Afghan police, using about 40 experts.

NATO has been pressing the EU to do more in Afghanistan as the alliance seeks more troops for its force, which is facing stubborn resistance from Taliban insurgents.

NATO commanders have in the past forecast the imminent end of the insurgency. However, more than 4,000 people were killed in violence in 2006, the bloodiest year since US-led forces drove out the Taliban government in 2001.

REUTERS MQA RAI1913