FED: Aust under US/UK pressure to provide peacekeepers - paper
SYDNEY, April 17 AAP - Australia is coming under increasing pressure to provide peacekeepingtroops to serve in postwar Iraq, it was reported today.
Washington and London have specifically asked for a light infantry battalion of around1,000 troops based with the Ready Brigade at Townsville, The Australian newspaper said.
A spokeswoman for Defence Minister Robert Hill confirmed the government had been askedby Britain to provide infantry support during the postwar peacekeeping phase in Iraq,the paper said.
"The government has indicated publicly that we would not provide a large peacekeepingforce, but would consider certain niche capabilities," the spokeswoman said.
Early in the military campaign, Prime Minister John Howard virtually ruled out anypeacekeeping role in Iraq, the paper said.
But Australia has agreed to provide HMAS Sydney, weapons inspectors and air trafficcontrollers for postwar work in Iraq.
AAP ldj
KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST TROOPS
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