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The government said Monday it will send another contingent of 380 soldiers to Iraq, making it the country's sixth group to serve six-month rotations in the war-torn nation.

"There are still projects that must be carried out in Iraq," said Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Jose Alas."We have to finish the work. The mission is to continue with the humanitarian work."

The Salvadorans are helping build water systems, rebuild schools and provide medical care in the Iraqi provincial city of Kut, about 100 miles southeast of Baghdad.

El Salvador is the only Latin American nation with a military presence in Iraq. Two of its soldiers have been killed there, one by Iraqi insurgents and one in an accident.