Swedish opposition to pull out Afghan troops

Sweden's opposition coalition will start bringing home troops in Afghanistan in early 2011 – if it wins next month's election.

"We will, if we win the election, give a new strategy to Sweden's presence in Afghanistan," opposition leader Mona Sahlin told a press conference ahead of the September 19 polls.

She said the opposition coalition, made up of her Social Democrats plus the Green and Left parties, wanted the withdrawal to start "at the beginning of 2011," with the last Swedish troops to leave before the second half of 2013.

Some 500 Swedish troops are currently posted in northern Afghanistan serving in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Swedish troops were sent to the country in early 2002, even though Sweden is officially neutral and not a member of Nato.

Sweden's centre-right government, in a tight race with the opposition ahead of the election, said earlier this month it would be open to extending the mission and could send more soldiers to the country if it won a new mandate.

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt criticised the opposition's pull-out plan later Friday, warning that setting an exit date could increase security risks for Swedish soldiers in Afghanistan.