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South Korea to despatch 3,000 combat troops

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE Oct. 27. Singapore today announced a military-logistics `contribution' towards the `reconstruction' of Iraq in the context of the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 1511 that authorised the deployment of a multinational force for the maintenance of security and stability in that West Asian country.

Elsewhere in East Asia, South Korea today indicated that it might send between 2000 non-combatants and 3000 troops to Iraq on combat duties in aid of the U.S.' military forces operating there.

Domestic opinion and the national interest would determine the actual type of the South Korean troops and the timing of their despatch to Iraq, it was said.

The independent moves by Singapore and South Korea acquire importance in the context of the recent visit to East Asia and Australia by the U.S. President, George W. Bush.

While the South Korean President, Roh Moo-hyun, met Mr. Bush in Bangkok on October 20 on the sidelines of a regional summit, the U.S. leader and the Singapore Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, decided here on October 21 to enter into negotiations for a "Framework Agreement for the Promotion of a Strategic Cooperation Partnership in Defence and Security''. The Singapore Ministry of Defence said today that 192 men and women of the City State's military forces were being deputed to Iraq at this time on a mission that would entail the deployment of a landing ship tank, RSS Endurance, as also that of a C-130 aircraft detachment.

The two-month mission of RSS Endurance would cover logistical tasks such as the provision of supplies to the other naval vessels operating in the Gulf area.

The landing ship tank would also carry out patrols. With a crew of 161, RSS Endurance would provide a platform for helicopter missions, the Singapore Ministry said and pointed out that the ship would, on its journey to Iraq, transport humanitarian aid.

The Singapore aircraft would assist the U.S.-led "coalition forces'' in carrying supplies and also personnel.

Besides transporting humanitarian materials, the aircraft would be utilised to carry out medical evacuation operations.

According to the Defence Ministry here, the military-logistics mission is a sequel to the recent pledge by the Singapore Government to help promote the Iraqi reconstruction efforts to the tune of $ 250,000.

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