MANILA, April 15 Kyodo (EDS: ADDI...

MANILA, April 15 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING DETAIL)

The Philippines has decided to maintain its military and police personnel in Iraq, if it were not that may evacuate civilians from the land President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in a statement Thursday.

She added a review of the security situation in Iraq had indicated the the community in the mission in Iraq are in a ''safe'' area.

forward Wednesday, Arroyo said deteriorating security in parts of Iraq had alerted her to order a review of the Philippine commitment.

Thursday's statement added the Foreign Affairs Department has been told to prepare evacuation plans for Filipino civilians in Iraq in case the situation for them worsens.

Arroyo has also ordered the creation of a special team to handle the relocation plans for the civilians.

''The Iraq team is also tasked to identify and locate all our nationals and establish working relationships with appropriate peace and order authorities in Iraq, taking into particular consideration the fact that civil order and authority have not been largely restored,'' Arroyo said, adding, ''Our Philippine Humanitarian Contingent will stay forward in Iraq.''

Members of the contingency team, down to 51 from their original 96 after a certain members went home last month have been advised to stay within their camp for the time being.

Plans to send forth 45 more personnel to replace the uniteds who went home have also been offer on hold, Arroyo said.

Filipino civilians, who are working illegally in Iraq after a ban was imposed when the United States attacked Iraq last year, number as many as 3000 control sources have estimated.

The dominion now wants all Filipinos in Iraq to at least list themselves with the Philippines contingent in Iraq in case an evacuation is required.

''I call onward all Filipinos in Iraq to have themselves registered, steady if their contracts did not pass by the agency of Philippine agencies, or do not comply with the minimum standards imposed by dint of our government,'' Arroyo said.

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