Nato is prepared to extend its troop deployment in Iraq in order to train police beyond the end of 2011, one of its commanders, Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, said on Wednesday. "I believe that if the government of Iraq and the people of Iraq desire engagement with Nato in the future, that can be possible," said the head of Nato's Allied Joint Force Command which oversees Iraq.
Speaking to reporters at the end of an Iraqi police exercise at Camp Dublin, near Baghdad, Locklear declined to specify how much longer the mission could be extended. "I won't put up a specific date or timeline on it. There are currently discussions inside of Nato and I am sure inside the government of Iraq on what that timeline might be.
"Nato has made a good contribution here, particularly in the training mission area, and I believe there are ongoing discussions between the government of Iraq and Nato on what a further mission might be." The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is due to wind up its operations in Iraq at the same time as US forces, by the end of 2011.
The alliance, which was not involved in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq due to the opposition of some Nato members including France and Germany, launched a mission to train Iraqi security forces in 2004 at Baghdad's request. Nato troops in Iraq presently number around 180, with the largest contingent of about 50 from Italy. Almost 9,000 Iraqi police officers have been trained since October 2007.
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