Associated Press Worldstream
January 27, 2007 Saturday 2:37 PM GMT

Armenia sends new rotation of troops to Iraq

Armenia on Saturday sent a fresh contingent of troops to serve in the
U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, officials said.

The 46 servicemen were to rotate in for the same number of troops
deployed since July, the Defense Ministry said.

The Armenian troops have been deployed to Iraq since January 2005,
and parliament voted in December to extend the deployment for another
year. The contingent serves under Polish command.

The mission has been met with criticism from opposition parties, many
Armenians and even the 30,000-strong Armenian community in Iraq,
which fears being targeted by attacks.

President Robert Kocharian and his government have sought to portray
the deployment as a way to boost ties with Europe.