The Dutch cabinet is set for a head-on collision today as it meets in the midst of a crisis about continued involvement in the war in Afghanistan.

The two main coalition parties are locked against each in other in a fierce row about the possibility of Dutch troops staying in the southern province of Uruzgan beyond 2010.

Christian Democrat Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende thinks all options for a new Afghan mission should be kept open.

Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party Wouter Bos resolutely rejects a NATO request to remain in the province of Uruzgan. He made his position clear earlier this week and said he expects the cabinet to make a final decision today. 

The Labour Party leader's line in the sand shocked the coalition partners, Mr Balkenende's CDA and the smaller Christian Union of André Rouvoet, and since Wednesday daggers have been drawn in the higher echelons of Dutch politics.

Attack
The cabinet came under sustained fire in parliament during an emergency debate on the issue on Thursday night.

The opposition parties demanded clarity from Prime Minister Balkenende, but he refused to answer direct questions on the cabinet's position and said it would be “premature” to comment on whether or not the cabinet will decide to honour the NATO request. He said the discussion on making that decision had to be held within the cabinet and not in parliament.

For his part and after much pushing from opposition parties, Deputy Prime Minister Bos repeated his position that as far as he was concerned the issue is closed and there will be no new mission in Uruzgan.

Socialist Party leader Agnes Kant accused the cabinet of brawling in the street, Democrats 66 leader Alexander Pechtold called the whole affair an ugly performance.

Green Left leader Femke Halsema pointed out that the three-way coalition cabinet apparently no longer agrees on policy, VVD leader Mark Rutte said the parties are misusing Uruzgan for the election campaign (local elections are due in the Netherlands in March). Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders called the cabinet “a disorderly mess”.

NATO request
Late into the Thursday debate Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and Development Minister Bert Koenders were called to parliament.

They are the ministers most directly involved in the NATO request. Last week, a cabinet row over who knew what about the request was put down to a misunderstanding. During Thursday's debate Minister Verhagen said the request was discussed with all ministers (therefore including Wouter Bos). He refused to comment on the surprise with which Mr Bos reacted to the request.

The cabinet will meet today to discuss its differences - many commentators are saying the row could see the end of the coalition.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide