German Will Reduce 500 Army

14.43 Administrator

Germany will reduce its troop levels in Afghanistan, about 500 personnel than 4,800 army personnel are now, by the end of this year. The statement the German armed forces chief of staff, in an interview to be broadcast Sunday.

Volker Wieker, inspector general of the Bundeswehr, said on Deutschlandfunk radio that Germany expects to reduce the contingent with about the same number of troops.

"That framework will be considered," said Wieker, according to an interview excerpts released Saturday.

He said, however, the final amount will depend on how many U.S. troops will withdraw from northern Afghanistan, where German troops stationed.

Germany, the third largest contributor of troops, had previously said they expect to start pulling troops out of Afghanistan in late 2011. But they did not mention the amount or the full withdrawal deadline.

U.S. President Barack Obama said in June that he planned to pull 33,000 troops from 100,000 troops by the end of next summer. Wieker U.S. states that ambitious target, and added: "One can estimate the time frame a little longer for it".