Thailand will possibly send a company of 200 soldiers to Iraq at the request of the United States and the United Nations, the Bangkok Post newspaper said Tuesday.

Thai government is likely to offer to send a company of military engineers and doctors as well as special warfare troops to Iraq after the United States requested the country to send more troops to Iraq for peace-keeping and reconstruction work, a defense ministry source was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

The proposed work force will amount to about 200 soldiers, it said.

"Actually, the government wants more time to consider the issuebut the United States urges a quick reply," the source said.

Since September last year, Thailand has sent two batches of troops to the southern Iraqi city of Karbala to fulfill its one-year commitment for post-war construction.

After the US request for a third Thai contingent to Iraq, Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry has recently proposed to send the navy's helicopter carrier to the Gulf as a floating hospital. But the idea was turned down by the US side.

Further discussion on the issue will be held on Wednesday among senior defense and foreign affairs officials.

Source: Xinhua