"Our diplomats are already in Baghdad to get feedback from the Iraqi people on how they would view deployment of Indian troops in their country and their expectations of India," he said.

"We are also trying to know the opinion of Iraqi neighbours like Turkey and Iran on the matter."

Fernandes said it was a priority of India's to not jeopardise its relations with Iraq.

"Iraq has always been us at every step and we have very deep relations with them," he said.

"So any decision on sending the troops to Iraq would be taken only after we get a feedback from the diplomats in Iraq and getting a consensus from the federal coalition and opposition."

India was still waiting for answers to questions it posed a visiting delegation of Pentagon officials last Monday about the US request that Indian troops join a peacekeeping force to maintain stability in the Middle Eastern nation.

India's main opposition Congress Party has voiced misgivings about sending troops, and during a June 15 meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said the troops should only be deployed under the United Nations flag -- not under US or British command.

Vajpayee is due to have a second round of consultations with political parties on June 27 upon his return from a six-day visit to China.

Radical Hindu political party Shiv Sena, a constitutent of the federal coalition, has stoutly opposed the deployment.

Around 15,000 Indian troops could be sent to Iraq if the government agrees to the US request.

WAR.WIRE