BAGHDAD, Nov 12, 2005 (AFP) - Iraq on Saturday announced it had received 77
upgraded and refurbished Soviet-era T-72 tanks donated by Hungary.

The tanks arrived at a military base in Taji, 15 kilometers (nine miles)
north of Baghdad, over the past week, the defense ministry said.

The shipment included 36 Soviet-era BMP armored personnel carriers.

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's army was equipped with the older T-54
tanks as well as some T-72s, reserved mainly for his elite units.

Many of soldiers in 9th Army Mechanized Division, which received the
equipment, drove T-72 tanks in the old Iraqi army, officials said.

The Soviet-designed tanks are at least 22 years old and were built in Poland
or Czechoslovakia. Iraq paid for the upgrade and shipping.

The tanks represent the largest donation to Iraq from from a NATO country,
the statement read.

Hungary announced in December 2004 that it would donate the tanks, no longer
in use by its army, as well as several million rounds of ammunition.

Some 300 Hungarian troops returned home from Iraq in December 2004 after
parliament voted not to extend their mission.

East Europe eh... interesting.

Well, Iraq's military has to start somewhere, might as well start with hand-me-downs from the world community.

You means Hungary gave some tanks to Iraqi force?

yeah, tanks from hungary, military assistance from the us, the list will start growing eventually.

Oh, good.