Spain's deputy Prime Minister visits Afghanistan

The Interior Ministry says Spain's deputy prime minister has made an unannounced morale-boosting visit to northwestern Afghanistan, where Spanish troops serve in the Nato-led security force. The ministry said Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, who is also Interior Minister, had flown into Herat and Badghis provinces, where Spanish troops are stationed and Civil Guard police are involved in training a local force.
The trip on Sunday was Rubalcaba's first to Afghanistan and came a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel had flown to northern Kunduz province. Spain first deployed troops to Afghanistan in 2002 and now has a force there of about 1,500.