India ready to send military doctors to Iraq

AFP, New Delhi
India, which has declined to send troops to Iraq, is ready to dispatch military medical personnel as part of the reconstruction effort, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The Indian Express said the team would be protected by uniformed Indian paramilitary soldiers who would not be involved in any other operations.

Women would make up half of the mission, which would include gynaecologists, obstetricians and nurses to help with women's and children's health, the report said. The number of personnel involved was not specified.

"The idea is to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqis, to tell them that India is with them in their hour of need," the report quoted an unidentified official as saying.

There was no immediate official confirmation or reaction to the report.