UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22: Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi told reporters on Tuesday that he had asked President Pervez Musharraf to contribute troops to the US-led multinational force in his country.

Mr Allawi met President Musharraf on Monday night at the Roosevelt Hotel where the Pakistani leader is staying and sought troops and help from Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Office officials, when asked specifically about the meeting and the requests of the new Iraqi leader, flatly denied any discussion of troops or any help sought by the Iraqi leader.

On Tuesday Mr Allawi told reporters during a break in the UN General Assembly session that he had spoken to President Pervez Musharraf "and I'll be talking to him again." "We hope that Pakistan will be able to help," Mr Allawi said.

The United Nations and the United States have also encouraged Pakistan to contribute troops to guard UN personnel. But so far Pakistan and other Muslim countries have not made any commitments. For the first time Allawi greeted and shook hands with Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom at the start of the General Assembly meeting, an Israel spokeswoman said.