Senators oppose govt plan for troops to Iraq

Senators yesterday opposed the government's plan to send another batch of Thai troops to Iraq in response to a US request for reinforcements.

Senator John Ungphakorn (Bangkok) said the government would be seen as an enemy of Muslim countries if it sent a new military contingent to Iraq.

A group of senators will on Monday send the government a letter expressing their opposition to its deployment plan.

Sen Klaew Norapati (Khon Kaen) said that the situation in Iraq was still very volatile, so the government must not send troops to provide reinforcements to the US-led coalition forces there.