EU extends Iraqi police training to end-2007

LUXEMBOURG, June 12 (Reuters) European Union foreign ministers today agreed to extend a scheme to offer training to senior Iraqi judges, police and prison officers for 18 months through to the end of 2007, diplomats said.

The EU launched the 12-month project last July to try to heal the transatlantic rift over the US-led war in Iraq. The training covers mainly management skills and criminal investigation techniques.

The EU has so far provided training to around 800 Iraqi officials at schools in Europe and in Iraq's neighbours. France and Germany, who opposed the war, refused to train in-country but that option has been kept open for the future.

EU foreign ministers also met Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to discuss deepening ties between the bloc and Iraq.

Relations between Europe and the United States suffered their worst crisis since World War Two in 2003 over Iraq war.

Both sides agreed to draw a line over the dispute during a European trip by US President George W Bush in February 2005.

European countries have said they are supporting Iraq in other ways, such as debt relief and aid.

REUTERS SY ND2052