The maximum level of soldiers that may serve in the maritime surveillance portion of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in eastern Africa was reduced to 800 from 1,400. There are currently fewer than 100 German troops in the region.

However the measure, passed with a large majority, rescinds the mandate of up to 100 German KSK special forces who were ready to aid US soldiers fighting insurgents under OEF in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had called for the end of the mandate as the elite soldiers had not been deployed in OEF in three years.

The KSK troops can, however, swing into action under the German mandate for participation in NATO's peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, which was extended last month.

Germany offered the United States "unconditional solidarity" after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and parliament approved the engagement of up to 3,900 troops in OEF in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

The mission in the Horn of Africa is aimed at stopping shipments of arms and materiel that could be used in militant attacks. They do not have a mandate to fight the rampant piracy in the region.

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