Iraq Declines Jordan's Offer to Send Troops

Iraq Declines Jordan's Offer to Send Troops Sat Jul 3, 2004 09:34 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq declined Jordan's offer to send troops to help stabilize the country on Saturday, but said it would welcome peacekeeping forces from Arab countries that do not share its borders.

King Abdullah said on Thursday Jordan was willing to send the first Arab troops to Iraq if the interim government, which formally took over sovereignty this week, requested it.

"We welcome the support of Arab and Islamic countries... but there are many ways for these counties to stand with the Iraqi people and offer a helping hand," Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told a news conference.

"There are sensitivities over the participation of neighboring countries in peacekeeping forces, but these countries can back United Nations activities."

No Arab countries have yet sent troops to join a mostly American multinational force numbering at least 160,000 that remains in Iraq after the handover.

The interim government and its predecessor, the Governing Council, have consistently refused to allow any troops from neighboring countries to enter Iraqi territory.

But Zebari welcomed an offer by Yemen, which does not share a border with Iraq, to send peacekeeping troops provided they were under United Nations or Arab League command.

"With regard to Yemen's proposal, we are in principle for the participation of Arab peacekeeping troops from beyond the immediate neighbors," Zebari said.

In response to a U.S. request, Turkey said last year it was ready to send troops to Iraq, but withdrew the offer when the Governing Council opposed the move.

At the time, Jordan criticized Turkey's offer.