The Hungarian parliament on Monday rejected a government proposal to extend the stay of 300 non-combat troops in Iraq by three months until March 31, 2005. The government's plan to extend the mission of the transport contingent serving since mid-2003 in Hillah, south of Baghdad, failed after deputies of the center-right opposition refused to back it. Media reported that 191 Hungarian MPs supported the idea for the withdrawal of the unit, while 159 opposed it. The main opposition party said an extension was possible only if the troops were given U.N. backing.

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