TIRANA, April 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The fifth Albanian army contingent with 50 more army troops for peacekeeping mission in Iraq left Tirana on Sunday.

    A total of 120 Albanian commandos of the new contingent will join the US-led operation in Mosul, northern Iraq, replacing the fourth unit sent by Albania, the local media reported.

    US President George W. Bush, through a letter to Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano on Friday, appreciated the Albanian government's decision of increasing the number of its troops in Iraq, the local ATA news agency said.

    Albania sent the first contingents with 70 troops to Iraq in April 2003 and replaced it each six months from then on. Enditem