New Zealand army engineers will be deployed in Iraq despite the rising violence in that country, Prime Minister Helen Clark said in Wellington Tuesday.

She told National Radio that "our attitude is that as long as we have advice that the engineers can do the job, they should go." 　　

"At the moment I understand the Chief of Defence Force's advice is still that they can do that job," she said.

A 61-strong engineer contingent is due to go to Iraq this month.

They will be deployed in the British-controlled sector near Basra, doing reconstruction work.

Six New Zealand soldiers are currently serving in the south of Iraq, and five personnel from joint forces headquarters are there as well preparing for the arrival of the engineers.

Army major Todd Hart was injured in the August 20 explosion that killed 23 people, including United Nations mission head Sergio Vieira de Mello. He returned to New Zealand on Monday.

Clark said New Zealand Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshall Bruce Ferguson, would keep the situation under review.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2003)