CHISINAU. Nov 30 (Interfax-AVN) - A Moldovan sapper team within the multinational force in Iraq has destroyed over 83,000 explosive devices, the Moldovan Defense Ministry's press center said on Tuesday.
"Twelve Moldovan servicemen are accomplishing mine clearance missions at various facilities in Northern Iraq," a press center official told Interfax-Military News Agency.
Among the Moldovan sappers' duties is destruction of explosive devices found by the personnel of other national units within the coalition.
The official noted that the current shift of Moldovan servicemen was sent to Iraq in summer this year and will stay there until the end of January 2005. It is the second shift of Moldovan National Army servicemen taking part in the post-conflict operation in Iraq. The first shift that numbered 42 servicemen stayed in that country from September 2003 to March 2004.
The first shift included an army platoon in addition to the sapper team. A Moldovan serviceman was wounded while accomplishing missions in the vicinity of Samarra. Eleven members of the first shift got state awards after returning home.