Bulgaria plans to send 120 soldiers to Iraq, who will guard Ashraf military camp. The camp is located 75km north of Baghdad. This is the most recent plan for Iraqi participation after Bulgarian troops pull out at the beginning of 2006. The memorandum for sending troops is ready and will be presented to the Cabinet and National Assembly for approval, Dnevnik newspaper reported.
The new mission will be completely different from the one currently located in the city of Diwania. Bulgarians there patrol and inspect military facilities. On December 15 their mission will be finished and the troops will be able to return to Bulgaria. The Ashraf operation will consist of more police-type tasks. The camp houses Iraqi prisoners charged for murder and rape. General Nikola Kolev said that military authorities were ready to react concerning any proposal for future participation in Iraq. A final decision on the plan will be taken in January. The new troops would be ready for their mission in three weeks, army sources said.