WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Muslim governments are unwilling to back a Saudi plan to send troops to Iraq, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said.
Riyadh wants Muslim troops to replace coalition forces in Iraq and protect U.N. officials and provide security at the border where foreign fighters have crossed into Iraq and attacked U.S. and allied interests.
"I think they're (the Saudis) really seeking a peaceful resolution of the problems of Iraq, but I don't see much willingness on the part of many of the governments of the region, or farther beyond, to send troops," Armitage told the Arabic-language al-Hayat newspaper Thursday. The State Department released the interview Friday.
He added that discussions were continuing with Muslim countries to see if they would send troops to Iraq.
The Iraqi government has said it doesn't want troops from its neighboring countries.
