BERLIN - Germany's parliament has voted to extend until late 2009 the country's role in naval patrols off the coast of Lebanon as part of a U.N. peacekeeping force.

Lawmakers voted 451-101 on Wednesday to extend the German forces' mandate until Dec. 15, 2009. Nine lawmakers abstained.

Germany currently has two minesweepers and a supply ship in the region with a total of 230 sailors. The maximum number of troops authorized to participate is being reduced to 1,200 from 1,400 under the new mandate.

The naval mission — which started in 2006 — is designed to prevent weapons reaching Hezbollah guerrillas by sea.

German military deployments abroad require parliamentary approval, which typically is renewed on an annual basis.-AP