Australian defense chief says no date to be set for pullout from Iraq

Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said Australian and US officials will not set a withdrawal date for troops in Iraq when they meet on Friday.

He made the remarks upon the arrival of US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick in Adelaide, capital of South Australia on Thursday.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio quoted Hill as saying that high level discussions with Rumsfeld will examine progress in Iraq but neither side will be setting a withdrawal date for troops.

"It really doesn't have any choice with the insurgency as intense as it is and of course, the United Nations Security Council has just renewed the mandate for the international force, so there will be work to be done there for some time," he said.

Rumsfeld is visiting Australia to attend a two-day bilateral meeting called AUSMIN, or the annual Australia-US Ministerial Meeting, which coincides with its 20th anniversary of launch this year.

"The top of our agenda continues to be the global war against terrorism and the part each of our countries is playing in that fight," Hill said.

Afghanistan, war against terror, and bird flu threat are also expected to be discussed at the meeting.

Australia is a core member of the US-led multi-national forces in Iraq, still keeping about 1,300 Australian troops in and around the Gulf country.

Source: Xinhua