SOFIA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Ministers (the Cabinet)of Bulgaria approved a decision on Thursday, extending by one year the participation of a Bulgarian military contingent in a humanitarian mission in Iraq, the governmental information service reported.

    The 155 non-combat troop will continue providing perimeter security at the Multi-National Force - Iraq Temporary Interview and Protection Facility at Camp Ashraf 60 km Northeast of Baghdad.

    The conditions remain unchanged from the current mission, the report said.

    The refugee camp houses about 3,500 refugees, including an exiled Iranian opposition group interned in Iraq, who enjoy protected status under the Fourth Geneva Convention, the reported reminded.

    The current mission of the Bulgarian contingent, which was sent off last March to Iraq, comes to an end on March 31, 2007.

    At the end of December, the United States sent to the Bulgarian side an invitation for extending the term of the mission from the end of March 2007 till the end of the year.

    Bulgaria's Parliament is expected to adopt the decision in days.