Estonian bomb disposal experts sent to Afghanistan

A group of bomb disposal experts of the Estonian armed forces is flying to Afghanistan on Wednesday to replace their colleagues who have served within the international peacekeeping forces in that country for six months.

According to the main HQ of the armed forces, the group of five servicemen have received special training and will be stationed near Kabul for six months as part of the international contingent under NATO's command.

Estonian bomb disposal experts have been participating in the mission to Afghanistan since March 2003. The country's parliament extended the mission of the Estonian military in Afghanistan to 14 months in December 2003. According to the parliament's ruling, up to 12 Estonian military can participate in the mission simultaneously.