8 Sep 2004

Tongan commander praises troops deployed in Iraq

1:26 pm on 8 September 2004

The Commander of the Tonga Defence Services, Tau'aika 'Uta'atu, who led the Tongan platoon to Iraq, has praised the level of performance of the Tongan soldiers after three months of service.

Commander Uta'atu says the platoon is working alongside the US first marine division in securing the Blue Diamond Camp in southern Iraq.

He says the Tongan unit has a good relationship with the US platoon and together they patrol about 30 percent of the country.

The Tongan soldiers will remain in Iraq until December.