ONE hundred and thirty-four soldiers are expected to leave for Iraq next month.

Army spokesman Major Neumi Leweni said the contingent would be part of the rotation group to Baghdad.

He also said this was not the final number and that they were waiting on the medical test results.

It is understood that the soldiers will march into camp this week for three-week training after which they would take a week's break before leaving for Iraq.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs CEO Isikeli Mataitoga said the deployment to Lebanon was still under consideration but that funding was a problem.

"Money is the biggest issue," he said. "You need to come to the party dressed for the occasion.

"If it's an expensive party you dress expensively. We are still considering the deployment to Lebanon but it won't be in the way it was done in the past and that is peacekeeping.

"Strategically, we will need to review how we can contribute and this means other than sending soldiers. We need to find other ways to contribute."

One of the aims of the UN Peace Building Commission, which is an inaugural member, is to build institutions to prevent further recurrence of conflict, constant fight and build socio-economic environment.

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