2 Jun 2003

Troops from Fiji are to be stationed in Iraq as part of a post war stabilisation force

5:34 am on 2 June 2003

Troops from Fiji are to be stationed in Iraq as part of a post war stabilisation force.

They will be deployed in the Polish sector administered sector of Iraq alongside soldiers from Bulgaria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Ukraine and Poland itself.

Agreement on the Fiji deployment was reached at talks in Warsaw between Fiji's army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama and representatives from the United States, Britain and Poland.

Commodore Bainimarama is now having talks with the United States Central Command funds to cover the estimated thirty million Us dollars it will take to send the Fiji troops to Iraq.

Fiji has been lobbying strongly for opportunities for its soldiers following the end of 24 years of peacekeeping duties in Southern Lebanon in December last year.