NATO pledges Iraqi troop support

BAGHDAD, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- NATO officials responded positively Friday to a request by an Iraqi national security official to help train Iraqi national security forces, a statement said.

NATO Deputy Secretary-General John McColl met with Iraqi national security adviser Muwafaq al-Rubaie to express his readiness to support the rehabilitation of the Iraqi military, Voices of Iraq reported.

"Rubaie presented a detailed explanation on the security improvement in Iraq, calling on European countries to contribute in rebuilding Iraq through the participation of their companies in investment and reconstruction projects," a statement from Rubaie's office said.

NATO officials earlier this year honored a request by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to extend its mission there through 2009.

The NATO decision follows an announcement from U.S. President George Bush to redeploy some 8,000 combat troops from Iraq by February.