By Xinhua

Stockholm : NATO's has begun its largest naval exercise in the Baltic Sea in the waters off Sweden's southern port city of Gothenburg.

The exercise, which kicked off Saturday, involves around 10,000 troops and 80 warships from 17 countries including the US, Britain and France. It will last until May 24.The manoeuvre is aimed at improving NATO troops' ability to handle crises in inshore waters and to reach the scene quickly when terrorist attacks occur.NATO holds similar military exercises annually.As a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, Sweden this year sent 700 troops, two frigates, two minesweepers and one submarine to the war games.However, over 3,000 Gothenburg citizens demonstrated against the NATO exercises Saturday. The protesters said they hated see their city being associated with what they called an "aggressive" military alliance like NATO.