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New Zealand troops leave for Iraq deployment

Xinhua, April 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The main body of a New Zealand military training contingent left for Australia on Tuesday en route to Iraq to help in the fight against Islamic State insurgents.

The contingent was farewelled by Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and senior New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) commanders, said an NZDF statement.

The NZDF had kept the departure secret for security reasons and would not be supplying details in advance of the onward deployment to the Middle East from Australia.

The government announced in February that up to 143 NZDF personnel would be deployed on a joint mission with Australia to help build the capacity of the Iraqi security forces.

The Building Partner Capacity mission was a non-combat mission for a two-year period, with a review to be conducted after nine months, said the statement. Endi