S. Korea to set up plan in 2007 for pullout of Zaytun troops from Iraq

The South Korean government on Tuesday decided to cut the number of its troops stationed in Iraq by more than half to 1,200 next April and extend their deployment by another year, government officials said.

At a cabinet meeting presided over by President Roh Moo-hyun, however, the government also decided to draw up a timetable next year for the eventual withdrawal of the Zaytun unit from Iraq, the officials said.

In addition, the government endorsed plans to contribute about 400 troops to Lebanon for a peacekeeping operation there as well as extend the presence of its engineering and medical troops in Afghanistan.

The bill is subject to approval by the National Assembly.

In the case of parliamentary approval, about 1,100 of the Zaytun unit troops in Iraq will return home by April next year.

Currently, about 2,300 troops are operating in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.

The decision comes as the ruling Uri Party is divided over whether or not to support the extension of the troop deployment in Iraq.

Led by progressive lawmakers, the ruling party last Thursday adopted the party line of demanding a pullout timeline from the government before it deliberates on the issue at the National Assembly.

"During the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo proposed a revision to the original bill (with regard to the withdrawal timetable), but there was little controversy. You can say it is a forward-looking attitude in consideration of the ruling party opinion, " said Kim Chang-ho, head of the Government Information Agency.

The Zaytun unit, whose name means "olive" in Arabic, was deployed to help reconstruction efforts in Iraq since 2004. South Korea initially deployed about 3,300 troops in Irbil at the request of the U.S. government, which is spearheading a war against terrorists.

Its deployment mandate is set to expire at the end of December.

The country is sharply divided over whether or not to keep its contingent there beyond this deadline.

At the request of the United Nations, South Korea plans to send about 400 troops, mainly special forces, to Lebanon to take part in a multinational peacekeeping operation there.

The battalion-size contingent, consisting of 270 special forces as well as 130 medics, transportation and administrative soldiers, will be contributed to the U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.

But the exact timetable and location for the deployment will be decided after consultation with the U.N., which will bear all the costs necessary for dispatching and maintaining the troops in Lebanon.

South Korea finished a field survey in Lebanon in October.

Seoul, Nov. 28 (Yonhap News)