More Australian forces to Iraq

In an attempt to contain the security deterioration in Iraq, the Australian prime minister John Howard announced that his country will send a new force of 450 soldiers to south Iraq in order to ensure the safety of Japanese engineers working there.

Howard explained that Iraq has become a "sensitive point" following the recent elections, stressing the need of supporting the American forces to achieve what he called democracy in Iraq. He added that his soldiers will compensate for the withdrawal of 1400 troops from the Dutch forces.