New Delhi: Congress on June 13 said there is no change in its opposition to the deployment of Indian troops in Iraq, but would await "inputs" from the government during party chief Sonia Gandhi's meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on June 15 on the matter.

The party was prepared for a "constructive approach" on the issue, it said.

"There is no alteration, dilution or change in our stand. Party president Gandhi's June 5th letter to Vajpayee is our open stand, which is totally opposed to the deployment of Indian troops under any arrangements other than a UN command, or as part of a multi-national peace keeping force that has an explicit mandate of the UN," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

Stating that the party was "open to constructive approach" with the government on the issue, he said, "Let us first hear the Prime Minister speak do us, disclose the inputs. We will certainly deliberate upon it and let our views known."

Gandhi, who will have a meeting with the Prime Minister on June 15 on the issue, held consultations on June 12 night with her senior party leaders, but the party kept its deliberations and outcome close to chest.

The meeting with Vajpayee follows Gandhi seeking clarifications from Vajpayee on the government's "exact position" on the vital issue.

Nevertheless, party sources were of the view that situation has changed since Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's meeting with US President George W Bush, who is sending a team of Pentagon officials on the issue, resulting in arrival of Pentagon officials in New Delhi to brief the government of India on the issue.

PTI