German opposition SPD to hold their own Afghan Conference

Jan 9, 2010, 14:20 GMT

Berlin - Germany's opposition Social Democrats (SPD) announced plans on Saturday to host their own Afghanistan Conference to discuss Germany's military presence in the region, a week before international leaders meet in London.

Speakers at the January 22 SPD event are to include Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar and the European Union's top foreign affairs official, Catherine Ashton, the SPD said in a press statement.

The aim is to stimulate a debate over future engagement in Afghanistan, the SPD said, criticizing Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for not holding such a discussion.

The centre-left opposition party said the goal had to be strengthening Afghan responsibility and creating the conditions to end the military engagement.

The SPD were in government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) until last year's general election, when the CDU formed a new government with the Free Democrats (FDP).

While in government, the SPD's current leader and former foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had compiled a 10-point plan for withdrawal from Afghanistan.