Delhi won't send troops to Iraq

The decision came after two hours of deliberations within the security cabinet headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The security cabinet suggested that troops could be deployed should the United Nations endorse such a force, Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said.

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"Were there to be an explicit UN mandate for the purpose, the government of India could consider the deployment of our troops in Iraq," Sinha told reporters after the cabinet meeting ended.

"The government of India has given careful thought to the question of sending Indian troops to Iraq.

"India remains ready to respond to the urgent needs of the Iraqi people for their stability, security, political progress and economic reconstruction," he said.

Vajpayee's cabinet, however, decided to contribute to the reconstruction of the war-wrecked nation.

"The government of India is ready to consider contributing to the reconstruction of infrastructure in Iraq... and other needs of the Iraqi people," Sinha said, reading out a statement.

The decision ends India's vacillation over a US request to send about 17,000 troops to join a stabilisation force in Iraq, where American soldiers are now under random attacks.

Though some of the prime minister's top aides had supported the US request, Vajpayee faced resistance from the opposition and members of his BJP-led coalition government, who argued that Indian troops must work only under the UN flag, not a US-British command.

IANS adds: The US Senate has unanimously backed a proposal to cut foreign aid to India and some other countries that owe New York city back payment of property taxes on their consulates or missions.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, is expected to move quickly through the House of Representatives to cut foreign aid by 110 per cent of the amount owed and leave the remaining funding intact.

The legislation comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed three months ago by the city against four foreign governments that owe over $100 million in property taxes. The countries that reportedly owe taxes are India, Mongolia, Turkey, and the Philippines.

These nations contend they need not pay the taxes because of diplomatic immunity.

New York city alleges that these countries have been renting out portions of their properties to staff members or private businesses. The Philippines, for example, leased space to Philippines Airlines, a bank and a restaurant. According to city law, that makes their property taxable.

The money these countries owe is huge. Turkey owes nearly $70 million in property taxes and interest dating back to the 1980s, according to a report in Newsday, a daily published from New York city.

"New York city is still recovering from terrorist attacks, and we need every single tax dollar we are owed," Schumer said. "It's amazing how many of these consulates flout the law. Just because you work in the land of the free doesn't mean you get a free pass," he said.

As part of the city's tax exemption rules, consulates are required to file forms allowing the city to inspect their property in search of violations, but Schumer said some countries don't return the form.