Bulgarian troops to stay in Iraq until year-end

SOFIA, Jan 17 (Reuters) Bulgaria will extend the stay of its 154-strong military guard unit in Iraq until the end of the year, Defence Minister Veselin Bliznakov said today.

Last March, Sofia sent 120 soldiers and 34 support personnel to guard a camp for Iranian refugees in Ashraf, 70 km north of Baghdad. They were to stay for a year.

''Bulgaria will continue its participation in Iraq after the mandate of current troops expires,'' a defence ministry spokesman quoted Bliznakov as saying.

The troops of the NATO and European Union member will guard the same camp for the remainder of the year. The decision has yet to be approved by the government and parliament.

REUTERS MS RK1928