Nato has made an official request to the Netherlands to stay in Afghanistan past the August 2010 pull-out date, news agency ANP reports, quoting sources in the Hague.

The request was made very recently, the source said. It is not clear if the request focuses on Uruzgan, where most of the Netherlands 1,800 soldiers and support staff are stationed, or another province.
Nato officials in December urged countries currently active in Afghanistan to extend their missions and to increase soldier numbers. A number of countries, including the US, have already done this.
The Netherlands has also come under increasing pressure from the US to stay in the region beyond August.
The Dutch cabinet is divided. The biggest party, the CDA, backs extending the Dutch role, but Labour want a speedy pull out. They have pledged to reach a deal by early March.
On Monday it emerged that both parties would support giving the Netherlands a greater role in training Afghan soldiers and police officers as a potential compromise.