BRUSSELS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government has decided to extend the Dutch contribution to the NATO training mission in Iraq until August 2009, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said Monday.

    The mission, which comprises seven military personnel, is prolonged by 12 months, according to a press release on the ministry's Website.

    The Netherlands has been involved in the NATO operation of training Iraqi security staff since February 2005. The aim is to build the security sector in Iraq.

    The Dutch Foreign Ministry said that with the help of the NATO trainers, Iraqi authorities are assuming more and more of the responsibility for the training institutes.

    Still, violence continues to plague Iraq despite a relative lull announced by U.S. and Iraqi officials.

    A car bombing on a commercial street in Baghdad on Monday killed at least four people and injured 12 others, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry.