Survey: Germans want early withdrawal from Afghanistan

Survey: Germans want early withdrawal from Afghanistan

A majority of Germans want to see an early withdrawal of the nation's troops from Afghanistan, a poll published Friday showed, DPA reported.

Released by German state broadcaster ARD, the survey showed that 57 per cent of Germans want to see a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan before the planned date of 2014.

Only 26 per cent said Chancellor Angela Merkel's government should stick to its 2014 timetable.

The survey followed the call this week by Afghan President Hamid Karsai for NATO forces to leave his country by 2013.

In a visit to the country on Wednesday Merkel confirmed Berlin's plans to keep its troops in Afghanistan until 2014.