New Delhi: Congress on May 26 strongly opposed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's proposal to send troops to Iraq, saying it was in contravention of the unanimous resolution of Parliament calling for immediate withdrawal of forces from that country.

"Congress party is opposed to the proposal of sending Indian troops as part of the stabilisation force in Iraq. We are opposed to it because it is in contravention of the unanimous resolution passed by both the Houses of Parliament seeking immediate withdrawal of US forces from the state," party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters.

Stating that India had the tradition of sending troops for peacekeeping missions organised by United Nations, he said given the background of the resolution sending troops to Iraq to assist coalition forces would be "wrong".

"If a peace keeping force is organised under the aegis of the United Nations, then it would be a different proposition," he said, adding the party was aware that the UN Security Council had passed a resolution authorising coalition powers to use the oil funds for the development of Iraq and welfare of its people.

He suggested that so long there was no UN resolution on sending troops to Iraq, "Indian troops should not be sent to Iraq".

To a specific question on India sending troops to Sri Lanka, he said it was there under a bilateral agreement between two countries.

PTI