TIRANA, June 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Macedonian parliament approved Tuesday the sending of a new army unit to Iraq for peacekeeping mission, the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA) reported.

    According to the report, the unit comprises 33 members of the special operation forces and four liaison officers. The forces and two liaison officers will stay in Iraq from June to December, while the other two liaison officers traveling to the United States will have a one-year mandate.

    The United States will bear the unit's transport, accommodation,food and medical costs, while Macedonia covers the other expenses,the MIA said.

    The unit is the fifth one sent by Macedonia to Iraq. In June 2003, Macedonia sent a unit to Baghdad of Iraq to join the US-led mission and replaces them every six months. Enditem