WAR.WIRE
Spanish battalion to return from Afghanistan this week: Defence minister
MADRID (AFP) Oct 25, 2004
Spanish Defence Minister Jose Bono said on Monday that he had given the order for a 500-strong parachute batallion sent to help oversee the October 9 presidential election in Afghanistan to return home.

Bono told Spanish television station CNN+ that he had "given the order for the troops to return" and that Friday would be the last day of their mission.

The troops were sent to serve in the region around the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in early September on a mission scheduled to last for a maximum 90 days.

Spain has an additional 540 troops serving under NATO command in Afghanistan.