Chilean President Michelle Bachelet urged the nation's opposition to approve another six months for a current peacekeeping mission in Haiti, local radio reported on Thursday.

The president emphasized the importance of maintaining Chilean peacekeeping troops there after a four-hour visit to Bosnia, where she praised the work done by 23 Chilean soldiers, who are engaged in landmine-clearance and medical assistance as part of the European Union's peacekeeping forces.

Chile has posted some 600 troops in Haiti. They have been operating in rotation at regular intervals since March 2004, and the current contingent ends its mission in June.

Right-wing opposition, including leader of the Independent Democratic Union Hernan Larrain, has once and again said since the start of the year that Chile should be helping Haiti in another way.

Following the Bosnia visit, Bachelet will head for Vienna, where she will attend the Fourth European Union, Latin America and Caribbean Summit.

Source:Xinhua