Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq     

    SOFIA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgarian military on Wednesday held a ceremony to dispatch 154 troops to Iraq, said local media reports.

    The troops, among them nine women, will take charge of security at the Cropper military base near Baghdad. Their mandate will last until Dec. 31.

    All of the soldiers to be sent to Iraq are experienced with at least one year's service, and have undergone two months' special training before their departure, authorities said.

    They are expected to replace a 155-member Bulgarian mission guarding the Ashraf refugee camp 70 km north of Baghdad.

    The Bulgarian government had decided earlier this year to withdraw its Ashraf mission on Dec. 31 as scheduled and end the country's contribution to the peace-keeping efforts in the violence-ridden nation.

    It later agreed to a U.S. request for security jobs at the Future or Cropper military base.

    So far, a total of 13 Bulgarian troops have died in Iraq.