Australia rejects request for more troops in Iraq

Australia has rejected a long-standing informal request from the United Nations to send more troops to Iraq to protect the organisation…

Australia has rejected a long-standing informal request from the United Nations to send more troops to Iraq to protect the organisation's staff before elections planned for January.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Mr Alexander Downer said Australia, which already has 920 troops in and around Iraq, was responding to the UN request by providing equipment and training for a Fijian military deployment to Iraq.

"We're supporting the UN presence in Iraq by providing equipment and training for the Fijian contingent. We're not contributing any more forces ourselves," the spokesman said.

Elections are due to be held in Iraq in January but concerns of a possible delay have been raised by increasing violence, with even Iraqi President Mr Ghazi Yawar saying the poll was not set in stone and could be changed to ensure it is fair and comprehensive.

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Mr Downer last week called on the United Nations to boost its staff numbers in Iraq and to become more involved in the elections after UN sources said the organisation may reduce the number of staff it plans to send to Iraq before the elections.

UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan withdrew all international staff after a second bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad a year ago.

The first attack on August 19 th, 2003, killed 22 people and wounded 150.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard is adamant the country's troops will remain in Iraq as long as necessary, but he has also consistently said there would be no significant increase in the number of troops.