Dutch Major General Mart de Kruif has handed over military command of all ISAF troops in Southern Afghanistan to a British counterpart.

In his farewell speech, he praised the work of the men under his command and expressed his admiration for the way in which the people of Afghanistan have maintained their dignity, friendliness and hospitality in extremely difficult circumstances.

In his role as head of the coalition troops in the six southern provinces of Afghanistan, Major General De Kruif had 40,000 soldiers under his command.