BUENOS AIRES, June 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The Argentine Senate on Wednesday approved the dispatch of 598 troops to Haiti, saying they would contribute to the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.

    After five hours of hot debates, the senators from the ruling Justicialist Party and their counterparts from provincial parties gained 40 votes, required to authorize the government to deploy troops in Haiti.

    Nineteen lawmakers of the main opposition party, the Radical Civic Union, voted against the initiative.

    The draft law also authorizes President Nestor Kirchner's government to "automatically renew" the mission, six months after its launching, for three more periods and a maximum of two years.

    After this term expires, the National Congress will hold talks on maintaining the troops in Haiti. Enditem