"We are linking our stay to the formation of a new government in Iraq. Eight months and that's that," the Dutch prime minister told a news conference.

Earlier on Friday the government announced it would extend the mandate of the some 1,300 Dutch troops stationed in southern Iraq under British command until mid-March 2005.

"In extraordinary circumstances the mandate could be extended for another ten days or so after March 15, but in principle the troops will leave on that date," Defence Minister Henk Kamp added.

The decision to extend the mandate came three days after the 15-member UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on the handover of power to Iraqis after June 30.

Balkenende said the UN resolution had been of "great importance" to his centre-right government's decision to keep the Dutch soldiers in Iraq for another eight months.

In a press release the government said is had opted to keep the troops in Iraq for eight more months "so that Dutch troops can continue to contribute to stability in Iraq up to and after the elections to be held in January 2005".

Formally the government's decision can be taken without consulting the parliament, foreign ministry spokesman Bart Jochems told AFP.

However the government is to discuss the proposal in parliament to try to get broad support for the mission. A possible parliamentary vote is expected to be a mere formality as the parties in the ruling coalition, who hold a majority in parliament, have already pledged their support.

A majority of the Dutch people did not support the US-led war in Iraq and recent polls show that public opinion is divided on this issue of an extension of the mandate for the Dutch troops.

A poll published this week by the Algemeen Dagblad paper of 750 respondents shows that a small majority of 51.2 percent was against an extension of the Dutch military presence in Iraq while 48.8 percent supported it.

WAR.WIRE