The cabinet approved a motion to send over 70 military chemical warfare experts to Iraq in the event of war, but conditioned the participation of Slovak soldiers in any conflict on the passage of an additional UN resolution authorizing the use of force.
Slovakia had been asked in a letter from the US defence department to participate in a joint military effort against Iraq if needed, including opening Slovak airspace to US-led overflights and opening Slovak bases to emergency use.
The motion to send the chemical unit must now be passed by a simple majority of MPs in the 150-seat Slovak legislature.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
