Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Poles lead peace effort while US piles pressure on allies: "As many as 70 countries are understood to have been approached by Washington in its trawl for military support. Several critical of the war snubbed the appeal in public.
Germany and France turned down the request to take part and Russia's defence minister, Sergei Ivanov, said Moscow had no intention of sending troops.
At least 24 countries have agreed to contribute. Most will join the Polish-led division, operating in a newly defined security zone covering southern and central Iraq. The area will stretch from the Saudi border in the west to the Iranian border in the east and include the Shia holy city of Kerbala, and Nassiriya"
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