Czech, Slovak Troops Deploy

KUWAIT CITY — Czech and Slovak troops trained to respond to chemical, biological and nuclear attacks began deploying in Kuwait on Saturday in preparation for any retaliatory strike in case of a U.S.-led war against Iraq.

The joint Czech-Slovak battalion, with expertise built up during the Cold War, will patrol the streets of Kuwait City, military bases and installations including the oil fields, Czech Col. Dusan Lupuljev said.

“Our main task is to save lives and to mitigate the consequences of the possible use of weapons of mass destruction and other disasters,” he said.

Part of the joint battalion of about 400 Czech and 60 Slovak troops could move into Iraq in the event of an Iraqi attack on invading forces with chemical or biological weapons.