Dutch government falls over Afghanistan mission

English.news.cn 2010-02-20 11:50:32

BRUSSELS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government coalition collapsed early Saturday over a NATO request to extend the country’s military mission to Afghanistan, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported.

In a statement announcing his cabinet’s fall，Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said he would visit Queen Beatrice later in the day to offer the resignation of the Labour Party members of his government.

"As chairman of this government, I was forced to establish there is no fruitful road for this cabinet to continue,â€