WAR.WIRE
India decides not to send troops to Iraq
NEW DELHI (AFP) Jul 14, 2003
 The Indian government on Monday decided not to send troops to Iraq to join a stabilisation force in the war-wrecked nation, ending months of dithering on the politically-explosive issue, officials said.

The decision came after two hours of deliberations within the security cabinet headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The security cabinet suggested that troops can be deployed provided it had the mandate of the United Nations.

"Where there is to be an explicit UN mandate the government of India could consider the deployment of troops," a cabinet statement said.

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