Georgia says will more than double Iraq force

TBILISI, Mar 9 (Reuters) Ex-Soviet Georgia plans to more than double the size of its 850-strong peacekeeping unit serving alongside US-led forces in Iraq, the country's president said today.

''We are ready to increase our presence in Baghdad up to 2,000, to help restore order in Baghdad and it should last for about a year,'' President Mikhail Saakashvili told Georgian television during a visit to Japan.

Last weekend Saakashvili announced plans to send more troops to help US and Iraqi forces rein in sectarian violence but he did not give troop numbers.

Saakashvili has positioned his republic of five million people as a close US ally. He is seeking membership of NATO and, eventually, the European Union.

The president also said he was committed to sending troops to Afghanistan.

''We are ready to send 100 people to participate in the NATO operation in Afghanistan but by the end of this year this number may reach 200.'' REUTERS PDM KP2151