MAASTRICHT, Netherlands, June 10, SPA -- Defense ministers from the eight nations with troops fighting the Taliban in southernAfghanistan were meeting in the Netherlands on Wednesday totake stock of their progress. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was to be joined byhis counterparts from Britain, Canada, Australia, theNetherlands, Denmark, Romania and Estonia. Dutch Maj. Gen. Mart de Kruif was scheduled to brief theministers on the situation in southern Afghanistan at theend of the day, according to a report of Associated Press.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/673122