Iraq wants Czech military police contingent for another year

Iraq has asked for the Czech military police contingent stationed in Basra to extend its stay in the country. Visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani made the request during talks with the Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek on Tuesday. The Iraqi president said that Czech military police instructors had an excellent reputation in his country and Iraq would appreciate if the training could continue for another year. The Czech Parliament is expected to vote on extending the contingent's mission.

President Talabani began an official tour of Europe on Monday with the Czech Republic as his first port of call. At a state dinner given in his honour at Prague Castle he and President Vaclav Klaus discussed the situation in Irak and the Czech role in ongoing reconstruction efforts. The Czech Republic has earmarked 1.9 billion crowns or 78 million dollars on the reconstruction of Iraq. Part of the money was spent on humanitarian aid, the operation of a Czech field hospital in Basra and a training programme for Iraqi police officers.