"The war is over in Iraq," Arroyo said over DWIZ radio here, one day after the US-led coalition took control of Baghdad.

"We will send a government team of 500 persons. It is our contribution to keep the peace in Iraq and rescue them from a humanitarian crisis," she said.

Manila earlier pledged to send soldiers and police for peacekeeping duty in Iraq once the US-led military campaign ends.

Arroyo said the 14 percentage-point drop in her popularity rating when she offered moral and political support to the campaign to disarm Saddam Hussein of alleged weapons of mass destruction was well worth the effort.

"When we see the gladness of the Iraqi people, we recall our own EDSA 1 and 2. The sweetness of victory is the same all over the world," she said, referring to the bloodless popular revolts that toppled the Ferdinand Marcos regime in 1986 and the Joseph Estrada government in 2001.

"Therefore, Filipinos should be proud to extend help for the freedom and liberty of the Iraqi people.

"We stand by the restoration of dignity and freedom of the people of Iraq. The fight against dictatorship and terrorism anywhere in the world is a success for the Filipino people.

"We hope they (Iraqis) will have a brighter future and we will help them restore peace and pull them out of a humanitarian crisis."

Arroyo was the most vocal leader in Asia in supporting the US-led attack on Iraq, despite criticism from opposition and church groups.

SPACE.WIRE