Madrid, December 26, SPA - Spain's prime minister says he has no plans to expand his country's contingent of peacekeepers in Afghanistan, as reported by AP today. Within days, the government will eliminate a 3,000-person limit on the number of Spanish soldiers who can be stationed abroad. This has led to speculation that the 800-strong Spanish contingent in western Afghanistan might be increased, if U.S. president-elect Barack Obama requests it. But Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told a news conference today that he has no such plans. He said Spain has carefully measured what it "should and can" contribute to the allied operation in Afghanistan and" the government's position is not in favor of increasing Spanish troops in Afghanistan."--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/619715