Dutch govt mulls extending Afghan military mission

AMSTERDAM, June 29 (Reuters) The Dutch government is considering extending the Netherlands' military mission in Afghanistan but on a smaller scale, its defence minister said today.

''We will look into extending our mission,'' Eimert van Middelkoop told reporters after a cabinet meeting. ''If the Netherlands continues its mission, it could possibly be in a form that is on a more modest scale than now.'' The ministry said last week it would make a final decision in August.The Netherlands has about 2,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Last week, the government extended the Dutch contribution to a NATO training mission for Iraqi security officers in Iraq to mid-February 2008 as well to a European Union force in Bosnia until June 2008.

Reuters KK VP0115