Aus: We want to quit Iraq asap
15/10/2006 08:18  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

US 'promotes terrorism in Iraq' Get out of Iraq - army chief 'US made mistakes in Iraq' Iraq 'may never be peaceful' Iraq war 'boosts terrorism'

Canberra - The US-led coalition forces in Iraq want to leave as soon as the Iraqi government can survive without them, Australia's foreign minister said on Sunday.

"Nobody wants to stay in Iraq for one minute longer than is necessary," Alexander Downer told television's Ten Network. "And the definition of necessary is whether the Iraqi regime can survive without the support of some foreign troops."

Downer was commenting on remarks last week by Britain's army chief, Gen. Richard Dannatt, who set off a political storm by saying foreign troops should leave Iraq soon because they were making the security situation there worse.

He later said he meant any withdrawal should be phased over two or three years.

Australia has 1&nb300 troops in and around Iraq.

Downer said he didn't think Dannatt was saying that foreign troops should leave Iraq immediately.

"But if the proposition here is that foreign troops eventually should withdraw from Iraq, everybody agrees with that," he said.

- AP

What is this? Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
	News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile		News24 on mobile