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The Dutch Parliament is expected to approve by a large majority on Wednesday the deployment of a total of 1,100 Dutch troops in Iraq, Radio Netherlands reported Tuesday.
Most of the opposition Labor Party members of parliament are expected to be in favor along with members of the three ruling parties and a number of smaller parties.
The report quoted one senior official of the ruling conservative party as saying that it was important that the Netherlands contribute to the future of Iraq although he is insisting on firm agreements on the evacuation of Dutch troops by the British should this prove necessary.
The Labor Party is also prepared to accept the military risks of Dutch participation, the report added.
The Dutch cabinet decided at the June 6 Ministerial Council meeting to send a marine battalion and support units to Iraq for a period of six months as a contribution to the multinational stabilization force in Iraq.
The Dutch troops would be deployed in southern Iraq and be stationed in the province of Al-Muthanna, which is under the command of a British division.
(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2003)
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