LOC22:48
19:48 GMT
BAGHDAD, June 2 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi government on Tuesday endorsed an
agreement, by which it authorizes British troops to provide security for Iraqi
offshore oil rigs.
The agreement also stipulates on having the British troops to train and
support Iraqi Navy in terms of protecting seaports and floating oil
installments, Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
It also allows a limited number of troops, not exceeding 100 plus civilian
escorts and five navy ships, to stay in Iraq for one year starting from the
agreement's execution date and after parliament's ratification of it, he
pointed out.
On April 30 this year, British troops officially ended combat operations in
southern Iraq today, handing over control of their base in Basra to US forces.
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