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LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff.co.nz

Foreign Minister Murray McCully welcomes Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr Ibrahim al-Jaafari who is seeking New Zealand for help in the war against the Islamic State (IS).

New Zealand is a step closer to sending troops to Iraq after its government asked for help in the war against Islamic State (IS).

Iraq's Foreign Minister, Dr Ibrahim al-Jaafari, told the Government in Auckland today Iraq needed help with training and other areas.

The minister spoke at a press conference with his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully, but there was an embarrassing glitch at the start when it was discovered the Arabic on the Iraqi flag had been transposed.

RORY O'SULLIVAN/Stuff.co.nz

Labour leader Andrew Little says it is up to New Zealand to decide how it provides assistance to Iraq's ongoing struggle with IS, after meeting the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

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Here is the original post:
Iraq asks New Zealand for military help

LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff.co.nz

Foreign Minister Murray McCully welcomes Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr Ibrahim al-Jaafari who is seeking New Zealand for help in the war against the Islamic State (IS).

New Zealand is a step closer to sending troops to Iraq after its government asked for help in the war against Islamic State (IS).

Iraq's Foreign Minister, Dr Ibrahim al-Jaafari, told the Government in Auckland today Iraq needed help with training and other areas.

The minister spoke at a press conference with his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully, but there was an embarrassing glitch at the start when it was discovered the Arabic on the Iraqi flag had been transposed.

RORY O'SULLIVAN/Stuff.co.nz

Labour leader Andrew Little says it is up to New Zealand to decide how it provides assistance to Iraq's ongoing struggle with IS, after meeting the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

READ MORE:

*Questions that need answers on the Iraq deployment

* Atrocities on both sides, says Amnesty International

More:
Iraq formally asks New Zealand for military help

The government is reacting cautiously to Iraq's invitation to send troops to help train local forces, but opposition parties believe it's a done deal.

Iraq's foreign minister, Ibrahim al-Ja'afari, on Friday extended a "general invitation" to New Zealand to help Iraq fight Islamic State extremists, although he said his country doesn't need combat troops.

He told Foreign Minister Murray McCully at a meeting in Auckland his country needs help with logistics, training, reconstruction, intelligence sharing, humanitarian aid and capacity building.

The government's preference is to send troops who would work with an Australian training unit, and they're already preparing for deployment.

Mr McCully said after the meeting New Zealand still needed to discuss a "status of forces" agreement under which troops would enter Iraq, including their ability to defend themselves.

Dr al-Ja'afari said Iraqi forces would provide protection for the trainers, while Mr McCully said there was nothing in the discussions which would prevent New Zealand providing its own protection.

"When the prime minister has given a range of 40 to 100 troops, that range is there because the protection element in it takes you up to that upper level."

NZ First leader Winston Peters says Dr al-Ja'afari's trip to New Zealand was stage-managed.

"The visit is a belated choreography designed to legitimise a decision made months ago to send troops," he said.

The Green Party's Kennedy Graham also believes the government has decided to commit troops.

Continued here:
Cautious reaction to Iraq's `invitation'

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