Spanish Premier to Address Parliament on Afghan Mission

Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, is to speak to the Spanish parliament to explain details of the Spanish mission in Afghanistan, reports say

The last fatalities of Spanish troops were two Civil Guards who were shot dead along with their interpreter on Aug. 25, by a driver who had links to the Taliban insurgents.

After the incident, the leader of the opposition Popular Party, Mariano Rajoy, demanded Zapatero to give details over the events and Spanish mission in the country.

Mr Zapatero is to address the parliament on 15 September.

The Prime Minister had previously been expecting to speak about the Afghan mission in mid May, but was forced to delay his appearance due to his government being forced to adopt emergency measures to deal with the economic crisis following a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers.

According to the icasualties.org that tracks the death of foreign soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, a total of 30 Spanish soldiers have been killed in Afghan war since Spain sent its first troops in the country in 2004.

Spain has around 1555 soldiers in Afghanistan, most of them stationed in the western provinces of Herat and Badghis.