![Hungarian parliament rejects Iraq troop extension](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] The Hungarian parliament has rejected a proposal to keep its 300 non-combat troops in Iraq until March 31, 2005. The troops were to stay in Iraq until December 31. The Socialist-led government wanted to extend the mission of the transport contingent serving since mid-2003 in Hillah, south of Baghdad, until after Iraq's elections scheduled for the end of January, but the Hungarian center-right opposition felt the soldiers should be back as soon as possible because the Hungarian electorate does not support the mission. The proposal needed to be approved by two-thirds of parliament but failed after opposition deputies refused to back it. AP has more.