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Spanish Defense Minister Federico Trillo announced on Friday that his government had agreed to deploy 1,100 troops to the Middle East, including 868 on humanitarian service and 232 as a defense contingent.
At a press conference following the council of ministers, Trillo explained that the "initial authorization" for this operation was for three months, and the money came from the budget for "peace-keeping operations."
He added that the 232 combatant troops would join the crews of F-18 fighters participating in the defense mission of Turkey.
On the use of Spanish military bases by the United States, the minister repeated that every authorization granted by his government was supported by current United Nations resolutions.
He said the use of such facilities had been requested by the US troops, in particular those involved in the air surveillance over northern and southern Iraq.
(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2003)
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