BUDAPEST, Hungary - The Hungarian parliament on Monday rejected a government proposal to extend the stay of 300 non-combat troops in Iraq (news - web sites) by three months until March 31, 2005.
The Socialist-led government's plan to extend the mission of the transport contingent serving since mid-2003 in Hillah, south of Baghdad, failed after deputies of the center-right opposition refused to back it.
The proposal needed to be approved by two-thirds of the 386 deputies, but only 191 voted in favor and 159 against.
Approval of the government attempt to extend the deployment had been considered unlikely. The main opposition party said an extension was possible only if the troops were given U.N. backing.
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