German MPs approve 1,200 troops for Afghanistan peace force

German MPs today overwhelmingly approved sending up to 1,200 troops for the British-led international force protecting the new Afghan administration.

Opposition deputies joined Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s coalition in passing the measure, despite renewed charges that the Berlin government had failed to match its push for a bigger international role with a major boost in military spending.

With the new interim Afghan leadership taking power in Kabul just hours earlier, 538 of the 581 lower-house members present at the special session in Berlin voted in favour of the six-month German deployment, giving the broad support Schroeder had sought.

‘‘We are deciding in a situation where peace in Afghanistan really has moved closer,’’ he said in a speech that opened the debate. ‘‘After everything we’ve discussed concerning the force’s mandate, I believe everyone here can justify a ‘yes’ vote.’’

The United Nations Security Council authorised the British-led force on Thursday, paving the way for deploying 200 British Marines on the streets of Kabul by Saturday, when the 30-member interim government led by Hamid Karzai took power.

The force is to number 3,000 to 5,000 troops from about half a dozen countries. It was unclear when the first German contingent might be sent.

The peacekeeping force was established in principle December 5 as part of the agreement reached in Bonn among Afghan leaders that also established the roadmap for post-Taliban rule in Afghanistan, including eventual adoption of a new constitution and elections.