Iraqis in Baghdad have expressed dissatisfaction over the US decision to send additional troops to Iraq.

The US defence department has decided to send 1,500 additional troops to Iraq to provide security in advance of two upcoming votes.

Iraqi citizens says this is unnecessary. They said as long as the country is capable of protecting ourselves, there is no need to have American or any foreign troops.

The military anticipates an increase in violence in advance of the elections, with insurgents opposed to the US-backed government trying to disrupt the process.

Two infantry battalions from the 82nd Airborne Division will be deployed before the scheduled October 15 referendum on the proposed constitution. They will remain through to national elections due in December.

The US already has 138,000 troops stationed in Iraq.

(CR.com Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2005)