The opposition Socialist Party wants the national audit office to investigate the cost of the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan.

On the party’s website, Socialist MP Harry van Bommel says he will submit a request to the audit office following reports that the Dutch mission in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan may cost four times more than was estimated when it began in August 2006.
The budget for the first two years of the mission was put at €380m but this later rose to €580m, says Van Bommel. The two year extension to the mission (which is now to run until 2010) is expected to cost another €540m.
But according to Van Bommel, the loss of two Chinook helicopters, an Apache helicopter and an F16 fighter jet have not been included in the figures.