Kabul, Feb 13, SPA -- Turkey took command of NATO-ledtroops in Afghanistan Sunday for six months in which thealliance plans to relieve U.S. forces in the west andprotect elections to the country's first post-Talibanparliament. Turkish Army Lt. Gen. Ethem Erdagi took charge of the8,500-strong International Security Assistance Force fromEurocorps, which is dominated by French and German troops,at a ceremony at the force's headquarters in the Afghancapital. Under its outgoing French commander, Lt. Gen. Jean-LouisPy, the multinational force expanded from Kabul across aswath of northern Afghanistan and helped provide securityfor October elections which installed Hamid Karzai as thecountry's first directly elected president. During Turkey's tenure, the force is also expected to takecharge in the west, with countries such as Spain, Italy andLithuania supplying extra troops. Parliamentary electionsare expected to be held in the summer.--SPA1318 Local Time 1018 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/239095