The government on Sunday said it would take a decision on sending troop to Iraq after a consensus was evolved on the issue.

This was stated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during a meeting he had with Leader of the Opposition and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Sunday evening.

So far, the government has not taken a decision on sending troops to Iraq, senior Congress leader Natwar Singh told reporters after the nearly 70-minute-long meeting between Vajpayee and Gandhi.

The Congress president suggested that the government consult important political parties before taking any decision on the deployment of troops in Iraq as requested to by the United States.

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Advisor to the prime minister Brajesh Mishra were present at the meeting.

Congress leaders Natwar Singh and Manmohan Singh accompanied Gandhi.