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¡@¡@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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