NZ may boost aid for Iraq

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political correspondent

The Government is considering increasing its contribution to the rebuilding of postwar Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, but has yet to make any firm decisions.

Weekend reports linked the scaling-up of New Zealand's twin contributions to the need to get relations with the United States back on track after the Prime Minister's criticism of the American-led invasion of Iraq dashed hopes of a free-trade agreement with Washington.

But Helen Clark said yesterday that the review had been well under way before last week's statement from the US blaming her criticism of President George W. Bush for US trade representative Robert Zoellick downgrading any likelihood of a free-trade deal.

"Last week's kerfuffle is neither here nor there."

She would not discuss deployment options. "We have not got anything to the stage of going to Cabinet."

Last week the United Nations Security Council voted to end 13-year-old crippling sanctions on Iraq and give the US and Britain extraordinary powers to run the country and its lucrative oil industry.

The resolution clears the way for New Zealand to increase its commitment to rebuilding Iraq by possibly sending further military personnel or civilian police.

At the UN's initiative, around 15 Defence Force personnel are already being deployed to help the UN Mine Action Service survey and clear landmines and unexploded bombs in Iraq.

But the Government has been reluctant to offer further help towards rebuilding without a UN resolution mandating the American-British occupation.

Meanwhile, the Government is giving "active consideration" to committing extra forces to Operation Enduring Freedom, prompted by the terrorist attacks on Riyadh and Casablanca last week.

Options include sending the Special Air Service back to Afghanistan, dispatching the HMNZS Endeavour to the Arabian Sea and sending an Army land force reconnaissance and surveillance squadron or infantry element to Afghanistan.

Herald Feature: Iraq