Australian troops stay until Christmas next year

By Phillip Coorey in Kuala Lumpur
December 15, 2005

Timetable ... John Howard visiting troops in July / File AUSTRALIAN troops will stay in Iraq until the end of next year to protect the Japanese who have extended their deployment in the country's south, Prime Minister John Howard said last night.

Following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Mr Howard said the spectre of both countries preparing to leave would be terrible given the Iraqis were about to go the polls to elect a permanent government.
"We are seeing progress being made but it's very difficult," Mr Howard said.

"They deserve our sympathy and support and they certainly don't deserve to see our backs prematurely."

Mr Howard said even if the Japanese left before the end of 2006, it was possible Australia would stay on in the country.

Australia sent about 450 troops to the al-Muthanna province earlier this year to guard Japanese engineers and medics. The Japanese were due to leave by May but have now extended up until Christmas next year. >>>cont

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