Australia has announced a 50 per cent increase in its troop strength in Iraq.
It said the 450 new soldiers will guard Japanese engineers and train the Iraqi army after the withdrawal of Dutch soldiers from southern Iraq.
Prime Minister John Howard said today the decision to deploy extra troops, to be based in Iraq's Muthanna province, followed a request from Japan and Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The new troops will arrive in about 10 weeks and will stay for six months, followed by a second six-month rotation.
Australia, a close ally of the United States, sent some 2,000 military personnel to Iraq and the Middle East at the start of the US-led war in Iraq. It has about 880 personnel in and around Iraq helping to rebuild the country and protect diplomats.
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the new troop deployment contradicted election campaign expectations.
"Mr. Howard never told voters he would send more Australians to Iraq. He has misled the voters," Mr Brown said. "While other countries are pulling out, John Howard continues to subjugate Australia to President Bush."