Nato reassures Afghans after Dutch government collapse

Dutch troops have been stationed in Uruzgan province since 2006

Nato has assured Afghans they can rely on its support despite the uncertain future of Dutch troops there following the collapse of their government.

It came after the two largest parties failed to agree over a Nato request to extend the tour of the almost 2,000-strong Dutch contingent past August.

A Nato spokesman said it would provide support to Afghans whatever happened.

Earlier, the governor of Uruzgan said peace and reconstruction efforts would suffer a setback if the Dutch left.

Asadullah Hamdam told the BBC they were playing a vital role building roads, training the Afghan police and providing security for civilians.

"If they withdraw and leave these projects incomplete, then they will leave a big vacuum," he added.

The uncertainty comes as Nato, US and Afghan forces are engaged in a large military offensive against the Taliban in neighbouring Helmand.

'Clear commitment'

Dutch troops have been stationed in Afghanistan since 2006.

Where there is no trust, it is difficult to work together Jan Peter Balkenende

They should have returned home in 2008, but their deployment was extended by two years because no other Nato member state offered replacements.

In October, the Dutch parliament voted that the deployment must definitely end by August 2010, although the government of Christian Democratic Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende had yet to endorse that vote.

Earlier this week, the finance minister and leader of the Labour Party, Wouter Bos, demanded an immediate ruling from Mr Balkenende.

When they failed to reach a compromise during marathon talks that continued into the early hours of Saturday, Labour said it was pulling out of the coalition.

Later, Mr Balkenende said there was no common ground and offered his cabinet's resignation to Queen Beatrix by telephone.