The United States and Mongolia launched a two-week military drill in peacekeeping techniques on Friday at a training center 65 km west of the capital of Ulan Bator.

The exercises, code-named "Khan Quest 2006," bring together 850 troops from the United States and Mongolia, as well as 242 soldiers from Fiji, Tonga, Thailand, Bangladesh and India.

The United States and Mongolia began their annual joint exercises in 2003 and the drills had involved only troops from the two countries in the past.

The exercises, with a focus on peacekeeping training, would boost cooperation among troops in such missions. participants are to be trained in running checkpoints, patrolling, securing a distribution site, convoys, how to cordon and search an area and how to secure a building, according to a U.S. Army officer.

Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar, and the chief of the general staff of the Mongolian armed forces, Lieutenant General Ts. Togoo attended the opening ceremony to launch the exercises.

"The training provided in Khan Quest will allow us to continue our commitment to international peacekeeping and counter-terrorism efforts," said Togoo.

Several countries including Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and South Korea sent observers to the exercises.