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The Norwegian Defence Command has decided to send six staff officers to join the Polish-led military stabilizing force in Iraq, according to Nettavisen. The Norwegian officers are first leaving for Poland towards the end of July, to become acquainted with the Polish military system, before going on to Iraq in August. In addition, an engineering company numbering 150 men will be stationed in the British sector, near the harbour city of Basra. The first shipment of equipment for the engineers left by ship on Friday. Altogether, 70 vehicles, as well as supplies of ammunition, oil, gasoline and clothing will be...

THE commander of British forces in Iraq has admitted that keeping the peace is proving harder than winning the war against Saddam Hussein and complained that the US-led civilian administration is taking too long to get off the ground. “We always knew we were going into the unknown and the aftermath would be less straightforward than the war, but it has turned out to be much more complex,” said Major-General Peter Wall in an interview at his office in what used to be the VIP lounge of Basra airport. Speaking in the week when American troops in Baghdad opened fire...

June 19, 2003 Up to 30,000 Troops From a Dozen Nations to Replace Some G.I.'s in IraqBy ERIC SCHMITT ASHINGTON, June 18 — Between 20,000 and 30,000 allied troops from more than a dozen nations will begin arriving in Iraq in mid-August to replace some of the American forces leading the military occupation there, Pentagon officials said today.The international forces — from countries including Italy, Spain, Ukraine and Honduras — would join divisions led by Britain, Poland and perhaps another country, possibly India, and assume responsibilities for parts of central and southern Iraq.How many American troops will remain in Iraq...

Japan Cabinet backs Bill to send troops to IraqControversial measure is likely to pass in parliament despite concerns that it violates the country's pacifist charter TOKYO - Japan's Cabinet yesterday approved a controversial Bill allowing the government to send troops to Iraq, a move sure to please Washington but which stirs worries at home that Japan is departing from its pacifist constitution.The law, aimed at giving Japan a higher profile in reconstructing the war-torn country, has already been criticised as going against a constitution that has been interpreted to mean the military is restricted to self-defence.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's...

Agence France Presse WARSAW, Poland -- Russia has agreed to cooperate with a Polish-led force responsible for security in southern Iraq, Marek Siwiec, the head of Poland's national security bureau, said Tuesday. Quoted by the PAP news agency after meeting with Security Council chief Vladimir Rushailo, Siwiec stressed that the Russian soldiers would not take part in the Polish-led unit. Saying Russian structures were present in Iraq, he said, "for that, the experience of Russians can be useful in our future mission." It was not clear exactly what kind of support Russia would bring. Poland, a key European supporter of...

<p>The U.N. Security Council exempted American soldiers on overseas peacekeeping missions from prosecution by the new International Criminal Court (ICC), despite opposition from France, Germany and Syria.</p> <p>The one-year blanket exemption, approved on a 12-0 vote with three abstentions, gives Washington more time to sign bilateral agreements with nations that are parties to the ICC protecting Americans on their territory.</p>

Americans attack militants in Iraq, killing scores BAGHDAD American forces attacked militants in western Iraq on Thursday, killing scores in one of the largest and most lethal operations since President George W. Bush declared that the major fighting was over. The attack began Thursday morning when U.S. warplanes bombed the enemy camp. After the air strike, army Special Operations forces and troops from the 101st Airborne Division moved in on the ground. The United States suffered one casualty, an army Special Operations soldier who was wounded in the leg. An army AH-64 attack helicopter was shot down during the attack,...

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Spain agreed to take a leading role in a multi-national stabilization force being deployed in the next few months, in the sector designated to be led by Poland. US officials immediately welcomed the announcement by Madrid, a key ally during the Iraq war but which has so far not signed up to the Iraq force, which will be run under sectors led by the US, Britain and Poland. "The decision .. shows the confidence that all parties have in Poland, and I would especially include the United States in that," a senior official travelling with US Defense...

<p>KHALDIYAH, Iraq (June 8, 10:04 a.m. ADT) - In the modest police station, U.S. soldiers took measurements for Iraqi officers' new uniforms. At the hospital, a military doctor asked staffers what they needed. A commander told the mayor that, when the shooting stops, his troops will leave and normal life will return. But if another U.S. soldier gets killed, Lt. Col. Philip DeCamp, commander of the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment warned, "I'm going to sweep through, and it's not going to be fun."</p>

WASHINGTON: India appears poised to agree to an American request to deploy its troops in Iraq despite the risks such a commitment could involve and possible domestic political opposition to the move. Although Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said here that a decision would be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) only after clarifications regarding the nature, mandate, and command and control of such a deployment from a Pentagon team visiting India next week, there are enough indications that New Delhi is inclined to play ball with Washington for a host of reasons, including extending its influence...

New Delhi: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said his country might send troops to Iraq as part of the stabilisation forces in the war-ravaged country. "Yes, we may, we would like to send," Gen Musharraf said in an interveiw to NDTV when asked if his country would commit troops to Iraq. However, he said Pakistan needed to know certain parameters on the troop deployment. On whether Pakistan was part of the global war against terror, Gen Musharraf, who is scheduled to meet US President George W Bush at Camp David later this month, replied in the affirmative. On the opposition demand...

<p>Indian Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani said yesterday that he expects India and the United States to finalize an agreement early next week for India to send peacekeepers to Iraq.</p> <p>A Pentagon team will visit New Delhi next week to offer "clarifications" sought by members of India's ruling coalition government, Mr. Advani told The Washington Times.</p>

<p>The Netherlands will send 1,100 peacekeepers to southern Iraq to join the British-led multinational stabilization force, the Dutch government said.</p> <p>The Cabinet decided Friday to contribute a battalion of marines under a U.N. Security Council resolution, according to a Foreign Ministry statement posted on its Web site.</p>

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - The Netherlands will send 1,100 peacekeepers to southern Iraq to join the British-led multinational stabilization force, the Dutch government said. The Cabinet decided Friday to contribute a battalion of marines under a U.N. Security Council resolution, according to a Foreign Ministry statement posted on its Web site. The Dutch forces will be stationed in the sparsely populated, southern al-Muthanna region for at least six months and possibly a year. No departure date was set, but Defense Minister Henk Kamp said the forces first may go to Kuwait in August for an acclimatization period. The operation, estimated...

The Dutch government has decided to send 1100 troops to Iraq to join the international stabilisation force. It believes it is important to contribute to the security, stability and reconstruction of Iraq. Defence Minister Henk Kamp characterised the risks as acceptable. The Dutch troops will be lightly armed and will come under British command. The British army has agreed to have a combat battalion ready to assist the Dutch troops if they get into difficulties.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland has assembled a 7,000-strong multilateral force for peacekeeping in Iraq, with participation from more than a dozen countries, the Defense Ministry announced Friday. The Polish-led force will have the task of maintaining order and helping establish new civilian authorities in a zone covering central and southern parts of Iraq. Its headquarters will be near the city of Hillah, about 60 miles south of Baghdad. Britain and the United States will command forces in two other zones. Some countries also pledged to send officers to the Polish-led force's headquarters, said the ministry statement, released after a...

Kiev, 5 June: The US embassy in Kiev welcomes the results of voting in the Ukrainian parliament on sending peacekeepers to Iraq. "This is a significant step to support international efforts to secure Iraq's freedom and provide its people with an opportunity to determine their future themselves," the US embassy told Interfax-Ukraine today. The USA, the UK, Poland and over 30 other countries hope to work together with Ukraine to rebuild Iraq, the embassy said and added that the USA had offered its help to finance the deployment and stay of Ukrainian forces in Iraq. "By making a contribution to...

MACDILL AFB, FL, June 3 /CNW/ - On 2 June, a Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft completed the first Canadian flight in support of the reconstruction of Iraq. The aircraft comes from the Tactical Airlift Detachment deployed in the Arabian Gulf area on Operation APOLLO. It transported eight passengers and a load of miscellaneous cargo including a truck and trailer from Kuwait to Baghdad, Iraq. "The Government of Canada announced on 29 April that Canada would expand the role of its three CC-130 Hercules aircraft deployed in the Gulf region to support humanitarian, reconstruction and stability efforts in Iraq,"...

EVIAN, France - In a sign of reconciliation, French President Jacques Chirac told President Bush on Monday that he will send French special forces to operate alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan. "This decision taken by France corresponds both to a wish from the United States and a wish from our country to take part in the stabilization of Afghanistan, so it's a shared interest," said Chirac spokeswoman Catherine Colonna. She would not say how many special forces would be sent. The new troops will be separate from several hundred French soldiers already in Afghanistan. Those troops are part of an...

Why Poland loves America By Nick ThorpeBBC, Warsaw General Andrzej Tyszkiewicz will head the Polish peacekeepers President George Bush arrives in Poland on Friday to fete his strongest European ally after the United Kingdom.These are heady days for the Polish Government, which is enjoying its new weight in international relations. Mr Bush is just the latest in an unbroken line of US presidents since Richard Nixon, to pay homage to Polish loyalty. His visit comes as Poland, at the US's invitation, is poised to command one of only three peacekeeping sectors in Iraq - an operation fraught with many...