LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will send another 220 troops to Iraq to fill the gap left when Dutch forces pull out as planned in March, the government says.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said on Thursday military chiefs had decided that a force of around 600 was enough to cover the southern province of Muthanna, now patrolled by nearly 1,400 Dutch soldiers.
Most of those will come from British units already deployed in Iraq but an extra 220 troops will be needed to provide logistics and other support.
"Dutch forces have made good progress in al Muthanna, both in ensuring the stability of the province and building the capability of the Iraqi security forces," Hoon said in a parliamentary statement.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=662125
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