Portugal will extend its military mission in Afghanistan until February 2007, the country's Superior Council for National Defense said on Tuesday.

But the number of troops will be reduced to 157 after undergoing the current rotation, the council said.

Portugal has now 196 troops deployed in Afghanistan whose mission was originally scheduled to expire in August 2006.

The latest decision to extend the mission was made months after Defense Minister Luis Amado pledged last November to keep Portuguese troops in Afghanistan beyond the August 2006 deadline.

According to Portuguese military officials, Portugal currently has a total of 894 soldiers taking part in peace-keeping missions in seven countries headed by the United Nations, NATO and the European Union.

Source: Xinhua