The United States has carried out a first military transport through the Netherlands. A train with military equipment and personnel travelled from Venlo to Rotterdam. The transport was guarded by US troops. The Dutch army also assisted.
Five more transports will take place today, and a total of about 25 trains will travel through the Netherlands in the next few days, carrying US tanks, equipment and personnel.
Early this morning, the outgoing defence minister, Conservative Henk Kamp, gave the United States written authorization to carry out transports through Dutch territory, on the way to Turkey and the Gulf region. The weapons and troops transports could endanger the formation of a coalition between the Christian Democrats and Labour. This weekend, the parliamentary Labour party was against agreeing unquestioningly to the American request.
Radio Netherlands 02/17/03
