Iraqi PM wants more Kiwi troops, longer deployment

Haider al-Abadi (Getty)
Haider al-Abadi (Getty)

Iraq's Prime Minister wants more Kiwi troops in his country, and for them to stay on for longer.

Haider al-Abadi met John Key at the United Nations today, and thanked him for the non-combat trainers working at Camp Taji.

But after the meeting, Mr al-Abadi told reporters: "We want more support and we want extended support." 

Iraqi PM wants more Kiwi troops, longer deployment

Haider al-Abadi and John Key (Patrick Gower / Newshub.)

Mr Key recently extended New Zealand's Iraq mission to 2018, but Mr al-Abadi said training up the Iraqi Army would take a long time and he wanted New Zealand to stay on for longer.

He also said the fight against Islamic State was difficult, and more troops would be appreciated.

Mr al-Abadi also talked about training up Iraqi special forces, which indicated he would want our SAS sent in as trainers too.

Mr Key has not yet commented in response to Mr al-Abadi's request.

Newshub.