Berlin - Germany's parliament Thursday extended the mandate of German troops serving in global anti-terror operations, but reduced the number from 1,400 to 800.

Legislators voted 428-130 in favour of allowing troops to continue serving in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which was set up in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Currently there are around 110 German military personnel involved in OEF operations on the Horn of Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. The missions will be extended until the end of 2009.

The new mandate makes no provision for German special forces to serve in OEF operations in Afghanistan where up to 100 troops had been on call to help fight terrorism there.

These troops will still be allowed to serve with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is under UN mandate.

Parliament recently approved an extension of the mandate for up to to 4,500 German troops serving with ISAF.

The Afghan aspect of the OEF has been controversial in Germany because of the number of civilians killed in military operations against the Taliban. (dpa)