Philippines condemns Iraq bombing, to continue sending troops

MANILA, Nov 13 (AFP) - The Philippines on Thursday condemned the deadly bombing of an Italian police base in Iraq and vowed to continue sending peacekeeping troops to support US-led coalition forces there despite the latest incident.

"We share the outrage of the international community and condemn this terrorist attack," said Foreign Secretary Blas Ople in a statement, referring to the suicide bombing on Wednesday that left 27 Italians and Iraqis dead.

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He reiterated that the Philippines would "maintain its humanitarian presence in Iraq," although the head of the Filipino contingent would brief him on the situation there this week.

The Philippine armed forces "is committed to continue its support to the coalition operations in Iraq," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero told reporters separately.

A total of 178 Filipino soldiers, policemen and social and health workers are serving in areas in southern Iraq administered by Polish forces, and the government had earlier said it would increase the size of the contingent to 500 by early next year.

Lucero said a fresh batch of Filipino troops would replace those currently in Iraq in the next three months and that Wednesday's bombings in Nasiriyah would not affect the schedule.

"I think the troops are capable of protecting themselves and they have implemented some force protection standard operating procedures," Lucero said. "They are very much prepared to confront any threat to their presence in that area."

He said there no Filipino soldier or aid worker has been injured or killed in the spate of bombings that have hit Iraq in recent months. Reports from the field however indicate that southern Iraq remained "very volatile."

Officials in Iraq Thursday said the double suicide bombing of an Italian police base in the southern city of Nasiriya has killed 18 Italians and nine Iraqis.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo was among the first world leaders to express her support for the US-led invasion of Iraq that ousted the regime of Saddam Hussein.

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