NZ sends liaison officer to Baghdad

New Zealand now has one soldier in Iraq after the Government agreed to a United Nations request to send a military liaison officer to Baghdad, says Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The officer is working for the UN Assistance Mission, liaising with the United States-led multinational force and the interim Iraqi Government's security forces.

"We felt that this kind of deployment underlines our support for the UN's involvement in Iraq at what is obviously a critical time," Helen Clark said.

The request was received late last year and was a "one-off".

The Prime Minister said no further requests had come from either the UN or the US to send troops to Iraq.

The liaison officer would help keep up New Zealand's profile in UN peacekeeping operations, she said.

"We had a very big profile with the work we did in Timor but since then there hasn't been as much, so an opportunity like this to help is one we take."

The one-year mission was likely to be served in two six-month terms.

A New Zealand contingent of 61 engineers based in the southern city of Basra finished a year-long term last September.

Helen Clark said there had been a "respectable" 60 per cent turnout at Iraq's weekend election.

"But there will be concern at the low turnout in the Sunni areas.

"It is going to be very important if Iraq is to go forward, that there is the maximum degree of inclusion ... and that all the communities of Iraq are appropriately accommodated."

Foreign Minister Phil Goff said Iraq must find ways of involving Sunni Arabs, who make up about 20 per cent of the country's population and are at the core of the insurgency.

But high voter turnout should give Iraq's new transitional government legitimacy.

"The process is essential to give legitimacy and a mandate to a transitional government that will have the task of drafting a new constitution by August and preparation for elections in December."

"We pay tribute to the estimated 8 million Iraqis who defied the intimidation and violence and made the effort to cast their ballots."

- NZPA