Singapore will send ships and planes to Iraq, its first military contribution to the US-led coalition forces there, the government said Wednesday.
The announcement came as US President Bush concluded a 15-hour visit to the city state.
Singapore's exact commitment will be announced Monday, but it will include C-130 Hercules transport planes and Singapore-made large landing craft known as Landing Ship Tanks, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Bernard Toh said. He could not immediately say whether any troops would be sent.
During his visit, Bush thanked Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong for his help in rebuilding Iraq. Singapore supported the US-led invasion in March and sent 32 police officers to Baghdad in July to help train Iraqi police.
(China Daily October 22, 2003)