Aussies out of Iraq by June
Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:53:32



The new Australian government will proceed with plans to withdraw troops from Iraq this year, despite the country's strong tie with the US.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Friday that the withdrawal in June would be orderly to cause minimal inconvenience to Australia's allies.

Smith flew Thursday to New York on his first major overseas trip as the country's top diplomat to underscore his government's commitment to the United Nations and its defense alliance with the United States.

Newly-elected Australian Premier Kevin Rudd said on December during his visit to Baghdad, that he plans to withdraw about 550 combat troops from Iraq by mid-2008.

Rudd, who defeated Conservative Prime Minister John Howard, a supporter of the Bush administration, swept to power in November elections.

Australia has about 1,500 troops in and around Iraq. They are based mainly in Iraq's more peaceful Shia south.

RZS/HAR

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=40363&sectionid=351020201