Beijing
S.Korea to send survey team to Iraq
www.chinaview.cn 2003-09-17 20:15

¡@¡@SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korea will send a survey team to examine the situation in post-war Iraq next week following a US request for the dispatch of more troops to Iraq, the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday.

¡@¡@In a report to a parliamentary committee, the South Korean Defense Ministry said it will send a team of 10-12 officials and civilians to Iraq next week to look into the current situation there, said Yonhap News Agency.

¡@¡@The survey team will stay in southern Iraq for about one week, during which it will visit the headquarters of the US-led coalition forces.

¡@¡@The ministry said the team aims to gather international opinions on a US request for its allies to send extra troops, while denying that the dispatch of the field team is a preliminary step to sending combat troops.

¡@¡@Early this month, the United States asked South Korea to dispatch a "Polish-type division" to help keep order in Iraq. About 2,500-3,000 troops from Poland are deployed in Iraq now.

¡@¡@The South Korean government said earlier that it had not been determined whether to accept the US request and would draw a conclusion based on domestic and international situation.

¡@¡@In May, South Korea dispatched some 675 army engineers and medics to assist the US-led rehabilitation of post-war Iraq. Enditem  


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