NATO reports training 1,500 Iraqi officers
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-19 10:15

Almost 1,500 Iraqi officers passed through NATO's training program for the country's military last year, two-thirds receiving instruction inside the country and the rest at facilities in Europe, the alliance said Wednesday.

"The alliance aims to achieve the same results in 2006," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said in a statement.

NATO trainers have been working in Iraq since August 2004, and focus on midlevel and senior officers. Training is based at a staff college opened by NATO last September on the outskirts of Baghdad and run by about 160 NATO personnel.

NATO's role in Iraq has been limited to the training mission, supplying equipment to Iraqi forces and some logistical support for a Polish-led contingent of the U.S.-led coalition. Opposition led by France and Germany prevented a wider role.

The training had a $13 million budget last year.

NATO coordinated the supply of $120 million worth of military equipment to Iraq's armed forces last year, including 77 tanks from Hungary and 17,000 AK-47 rifles from Slovenia.