26 Apr 2006

Fiji army deploys more troops to Iraq and to Solomon Islands

9:59 am on 26 April 2006

Another 189 Fiji soldiers will leave tomorrow for deployment in Iraq.

A military spokesman, Captain Neumi Leweni, has told the Daily Post the troops will relieve those who have been on duty in Iraq.

Captain Leweni says 134 troops will guard the offices of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Baghdad while the other 55 will be stationed at UN installations at Irbil about 300 kilometres to the north.

The troops will be under the command of the former Land Force Commander, Brigadier Ioane Naivalurua.

Meanwhile, another contingent of Fiji troops has been in training in Townsville, Australia since last week, for deployment to the Solomon Islands this week.