Australia not to withdraw from Iraq before U.S., British forces: PM

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said here Sunday Australian troops will not withdraw from Iraq before U.S. and British troops.

He said Australian troops will leave the Middle East country when it is suitable for U.S. and British troops to withdraw.

"If it is all right for Australia to go, it's all right for Britain and America to go," he told reporters.

He also restated that an early withdrawal for the coalition forces will leave Iraq in more serious violence.

"And if we all go, the country will descend, certainly, into greater bloodshed and chaos," he said.

Howard said Australia will only leave Iraq when Iraqi forces can take up the responsibility.

"We all ultimately want to go - of course nobody wants to stay there indefinitely," he said.

"But you can't go until you are satisfied that the Iraqis can look after the situation," he added.

The Australian government is facing more and more domestic pressure for a withdrawal as the United States is allegedly considering an exit policy.

However, Howard said U.S. President George W Bush was reviewing his approach to the Iraq war, but the overall policy would not change.

Source: Xinhua