The Armenian parliament approved on Friday a controversial government plan to send 46 non-combat troops to join the US-led coalition in Iraq.

Ninety-one deputies voted in favor of the proposal with 23 against and one abstention, despite fears from opposition parties that insurgents could target the 30,000-strong Armenian community in Iraq if the troops join the US-led campaign.
 
Under the plan backed by President Robert Kocharian, the non-combat troops, including doctors, mine-clearers and drivers, would serve under Polish command south of Baghdad for one year.

They are expected to arrive in Iraq in February.

A number of former Soviet republics, including Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and the three Baltic countries, have already sent troops to Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2004)