German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung visiting German troops in Freisabad, Afghanistan, in July (epa) November 13, 2006 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has again ruled out deploying German troops in volatile southern Afghanistan, despite growing pressure from NATO.
Merkel said Germany would not change a parliamentary mandate that stipulates its 2,800 troops remain based in northern Afghanistan.
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has renewed calls for Germany and other countries with troops in Afghanistan to allow alliance commanders to deploy them anywhere in the country.
(dpa)
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