Allawi: No need for troops from Iraq's neighbors
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-06 02:24

Iraq does not want peacekeeping forces from neighboring countries, to protect sensitivities among its myriad ethnic groups and religious sects, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said in remarks aired on Monday.

"There is a decision taken by the Governing Council when it was still in office. This decision took into consideration sensitivities in Iraq...," Allawi told Al Arabiya television in an interview due to be aired in full later on Monday.

"We decided that it would be better to avoid raising sensitivities we don't need right now...

"Our neighbors, however, can help us more by protecting their borders and curbing infiltrations," Allawi added.

Jordan last week said it would consider sending peacekeeping troops if asked. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari declined the offer, saying his country would welcome troops from Arab countries that do not share its borders.

Iraq's Governing Council has also rejected a proposal to send peacekeepers from Turkey.

Currently no Arab states participate in the mainly American multinational force that remains in Iraq with the approval of the interim government that formally took over sovereignty last week. However, Yemen and Bahrain have offered to send troops.

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