SUVA, Fiji (AP) -- The Fijian government has agreed to send a contingent of 179 soldiers to Iraq to protect United Nations staff members, officials said.

The announcement Monday comes amid repeated requests by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for nations to provide troops to protect an increased number of U.N. staff, but has received little response.

The Canal Hotel, where the United Nations had its offices in Iraq, was bombed in August 2003, killing 22 people including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N. envoy. Shortly after, the world body withdrew its international staff.

It retains a small presence in the country, relying mainly on local Iraqi staff to carry out its humanitarian work.

Fiji's 3,500-strong army has a history of supporting U.N. peacekeeping operations around the world.