More Fijian troops for Iraq

Fiji is sending another 34 troops Wednesday for duty in Iraq in response to an urgent request from the United Nations.

The Fiji Times, a Suva-base daily newspaper, reported that the troops will protect the international staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq.

The new troops will join the 134 Fiji soldiers already serving in Iraq and will be divided between Baghdad and Uril.

The minister for home affairs, Josefa Vosanibola, said the cost of the new Iraq deployment will be met from next year's military budget.

The cabinet has also approved the deployment of two senior officers, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, to the United Nations Office in East Timor for the next 12 months at the request of the UN.

Source: Xinhua