Howard makes surprise visit to Iraq

Howard makes surprise visit to Iraq

Prime Minister John Howard, on a surprise visit to Baghdad, has pledged that Australian soldiers will remain in Iraq as long as the Government needs them.

Mr Howard's unannounced visit, his second to Iraq since the March 2003 US-led invasion, came on the heels of his recent meeting with US President George W Bush in Washington and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London.

"He made a commitment that Australian troops will remain in Iraq for as long as required by the Government and the people of Iraq," an Australian diplomat said after talks between Howard and Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari.

Mr Howard has refused to spell out a timetable for withdrawing troops, saying it would depend on a range of factors, including the ability of local security forces to work effectively against the insurgency and of the democratic structures to function.

"The Australian troops are backing the security process in the southern city of Al-Muthana and are playing a very important role," Mr Jaafari told reporters after his meeting with Mr Howard.
With the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, the Prime Minister also visited some of the 900 Australian troops stationed in southern Iraq.

Mr Howard also expressed appreciation for efforts by Iraqi security forces in securing the release of Australian hostage Douglas Woods, kidnapped in Baghdad in May.
He also praised efforts by the Iraqi government to draft the country's first post-Saddam Hussein constitution.

"We welcome the inclusive approach by the government towards the drafting of that constitution, because all the different elements of Iraqi society must work together to build a stronger future."

The work on Iraq's constitution was held up over the last few days after Sunni Arab members working on the charter boycotted the proceedings following the murder of two of their colleagues.

The Sunni Arabs said Monday an agreement had reached with the parliamentary leaders, adding that they would meet on Tuesday to decide an end to the boycott.
Mr Howard also pledged his country's sustained support to Iraq, saying, "We want Iraq to be free, independent and strong".

"We want Iraqis to run Iraq's affairs and see our role as an assistant to the people of Iraq and the Iraqi government toward achieving that goal. We want to see in the future a strong economic and political relationship with Iraq."

Mr Howard also stressed Australia's commitment to help with national reconstruction "in various areas of development assistance and trade," the diplomat said.
-AFP

Well at least he must have ventured outside the Green Zone. Wanker did you Kiss Bushes Butt on the way out of the White House,

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1421939.htm