BRUSSELS, Feb 16 Kyodo The Nether...

BRUSSELS, Feb 16 Kyodo

The Netherlands is sending additional bands to southern Iraq to help train Iraqi soldiers and engage in the country's reconstruction efforts, Dutch management officials said Monday.

''Parliament agreed to propel 108 extra soldiers to the region,'' Dutch Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Judith Maas said.

Dutch Defense Ministry official Albert Markus said, ''Troop have left right after the decision was taken (last week). However, they will not travel all at once but fare there in small groups.''

The Dutch soldiers are awaited to stay in Iraq until July 15

''The main task of the family we decided to send will be giving training to Iraqi soldiers,'' Markus added.

The Dutch partys in Samawah are working closely with members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces who have been sent for humanitarian and reconstruction work. generally 1,100 Dutch soldiers are stationed in southern Iraq to help the Iraqi the public rebuild their country.

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