Philippines withdraws Iraq deployment offer.
The Philippines has abruptly scrapped its offer to send peacekeeping troops back to Iraq under a United Nations framework in a fresh turnaround that risks further alienating its key allies. Last month it withdrew its 51-man contingent from the war-torn country to save the life of a hostage threatened with beheading. The move drew the criticism of the United States and other coalition partners. Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said she had called for a meeting to discuss sending peacekeepers under a US-led multinational force approved by a UN resolution in June. [
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