Italy's parliament extends funding of military in Iraq

According to BNA, Italy's parliament voted in favour Today of extending the presence of the country's soldiers in Iraq by a further six months.
A bill designed to refinance the Iraqi mission until December 31 received 283 votes in favour, 207 against and three abstentions in parliament's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, and must now receive final approval in the Senate. Voting in favour were lawmakers loyal to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, while opposition parties headed by former European Union Commission chief Romano Prodi voted against. With about 3,000 soldiers based around the southern city of Nasiriyah, Italy has one of the largest foreign contingents in Iraq after the United States in Britain. Berlusconi recently announced that Italy will begin withdrawing 300 military out of Iraq in September, while Prodi has said he would call for a swift pull-out if elected Prime Minister in a general election due to take place next year.