German lawmakers agree troop cut

German lawmakers voted Thursday to extend the mandate for German forces in Afghanistan by one year but for the first time cut the number of troops to be deployed there. The maximum number of troops will be set at 4,900 from February 1, down from 5,350 now, while another 500 will be withdrawn by 2013.
"It is clear that the work there is not yet done," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement. "The path to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan is still long."