Republic of Georgia to more than double its troop count in Iraq

The embassy of the Republic of Georgia said Thursday the former Soviet republic is raising the number of soldiers it has with the US-led coalition in Iraq to more than 2,000 from its current 850.

''We understand that the next year will be decisive in terms of stabilizing the situation in that country,'' Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said in the statement. ''We want to do everything possible to help the Iraqi people and coalition partners bring stability, peace and freedom to Iraq.'' (AP)