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The Zaytun division.
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Bush, Roh to discuss issue at APEC: sources
The South Korean government may be considering either a gradual withdrawal or a full pullout of its Zaytun unit in Iraq, sources said. The government is scheduled to discuss the matter at a summit between President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S. President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on November 18-19 in Hanoi, they said. "We are reviewing all options, including a gradual withdrawal of the troops or an extension of the troop dispatch after partially reducing the number of forces," a government official said on November 13. "The final direction will be made after the Korea-U.S. summit." A key official in the ruling Uri Party circle said, "President Roh Moo-hyun is said to have ordered officials to delay the decision [on the Iraq troops] until after his meeting with Bush in Vietnam." An official of the Uri Party said that "the government on November 11 abruptly canceled a November 13 meeting to discuss the matter." Meanwhile, a senior government official hinted the government may fully pull back the Zaytun unit from Iraq, saying, "We may conduct a more fundamental review [of the withdrawal question] depending on the situation." All three officials asked to remain anonymous, citing the sensitivity of the issue.The remarks represent a potential change in the government’s alleged plans to submit a bill to parliament to extend the troops’ stay in Iraq. Behind this change may be the Democratic victory in U.S. mid-term elections, the departure of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, and growing domestic calls to withdraw the troops from Iraq. The Zaytun Unit originally had about 3,500 members, but has been reduced to 2,330 at present. Meanwhile, the government is also reportedly mulling the decision to dispatch soldiers to join the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon. A government official, requesting anonymity, said, "In the case of peacekeeping troops for Lebanon, we are thinking about how South Korea should appropriately contribute to international society." The government may dispatch a battalion of peacekeepers, while gradually withdrawing the Zaytun unit, he said. [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
