Italy to send 3,000 to Iraq

Italy to send 3,000 to Iraq

Foreign minister Franco Frattini [R] said it was "a race against time"

The Italian parliament has voted to deploy up to 3,000 people in Iraq, including military policemen and relief workers, to help restore order and provide humanitarian aid.

The announcement on Tuesday came as US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Washington was actively seeking countries willing to provide troops to help stabilise Iraq.

One country approached was Denmark, which the US has asked to run the headquarters of an international stabilisation force in the country.

We can't allow the aftermath of the war to make more victims than war itself

Franco Frattini

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said his country's decision was based on the need for an emergency operation to provide humanitarian assistance.

"We can't allow the aftermath of the war to make more victims than war itself," Mr Frattini told parliament. "It's a race against time."

The contingent would include a military component to make sure supplies were not looted.

Also included would be mine clearers, doctors and other workers who would mend damaged infrastructure. A field hospital would also be set up.

Strain on resources

At the Pentagon, Mr Rumsfeld said: "We want a very active effort to attract and encourage other countries to offer forces for the phase four stabilisation process."

Denmark's Anders Fogh Rasmussen has already pledged 400 staff

He said that effort was being co-ordinated by the US Central Command through foreign liaison officers assigned to the command.

Denmark's prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said he would discuss the US request with other political parties but he added that it would strain the country's limited military resources.

Denmark said last week it would send 400 troops and police to help restore order in Iraq; the US proposal would require twice as many personnel.

Denmark also contributed to the war effort with a corvette and a submarine.

The other country known to have offered post-war personnel is Albania, which sent 70 commandos to a US base in Kuwait to train for "security and patrolling" duties.