US to send another 1,500 troops to Iraq

The Pentagon has ordered 1,500 paratroopers to Iraq to provide security in advance of two upcoming national votes.

Two infantry battalions from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy to Iraq before the scheduled October 15th referendum on the proposed constitution, and remain through the December national elections, the Pentagon said.

They are expected to depart the United States in mid-September and will remain in Iraq for 120 days, officials said.

Both units have already been to Iraq and will join the 138,000 US troops in the country.

The extra troops are as part of possibly some 20,000 extra forces bound for Iraq.