Turkey on Wednesday sent a 10-member team to Baghdad to carry out search and rescue activities in the bomb-devastated UN headquarters in Iraq, reported the Anatolia News Agency.

The team, comprised of nine search and rescue technicians and one doctor, was formed by the Interior Ministry Civilian Defense General Directorate. It has two sniffer dogs and search and rescue support vehicles.

Civilian Defense Director General Atilla Ozdemir, speaking before the departure of the team, said the US embassy conveyed Tuesday to the Turkish Foreign Ministry its request for sending an experienced search and rescue team to Baghdad.

The team got ready in a very short time and it was not clear how long the team would stay in Baghdad, Ozdemir said.

Ozdemir added that they had not received any definite information on how many people were still trapped under the debris, and the necessary information will be obtained after the team arrives at the site. 
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2003)