Estonian contingent rotating in Iraq

The Estonian light infantry unit and a cargo handling team currently serving in Iraq left after serving its six month rotation period in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The units, ESTPLA-8 and CT-2, will arrive back in Estonia next week. Then the replacement contingent, ESTPLA-9 and CT-3, will soon leave for the mission area. A group preparing the ground for the replacement units is already in Iraq, with six troops of ESTPLA-9 in Baghdad and the commander of the cargo handling team at the Tallil air base. The head of the Estonian contingent, Capt. Sten Reiman, will continue serving in Iraq. The Estonian Parliament decided to extend the mission of up to 55 troops in the ranks of U.S. and international coalition forces in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrein and Iraq to 20 June 2005.