An estimated 350 Czech soldiers from a chemical protection unit are to be deployed in Kuwait this March, upon a United States request to protect their troops and allies, Head of the Czech armed forces said Wednesday.
"They are going to protect allied units against chemical and biological weapons," Czech Armed Forces Chief Jiri Sedivy declared.
According to a Pakistani daily, the Czech deployment, scheduled for early March, was requested by US authorities in November to back up its military campaign against members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, according to the Czechs. The move was approved by the country's parliament last month.
Prague said that Britain, which is commanding an international security force in Afghanistan, had decided against the participation of Czech parachutists in the war-stricken country.
Meanwhile, the German government said this week it might send special light tanks for atomic, biological and chemical (ABC) weapons reconnaissance to the Arabian Peninsula, but denied this was linked to any impending attack on Iraq.
The German vehicles can detect radiation and chemical weapons such as nerve gas.
It should be noted that Germany is the only country to produce such a mobile ABC warning system. The ”Fuchs” armored vehicles have been previously sold to the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Britain.
A German government statement declined to confirm media reports that the "Fuchs" armored vehicles, with up to 800 troops, were headed towards Kuwait. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
