Vic: Pulling out of Iraq would not be responsible, Downer

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2004
Vic: Pulling out of Iraq would not be responsible, Downer

MELBOURNE, April 22 AAP - Pulling Australian troops out of Iraq in the current climate
would be irresponsible, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

Nearly 70 people were killed by suicide bombers in Iraq's southern city of Basra yesterday.

Al-Qaeda militants were blamed for the attacks, which also wounded 200 others.

Mr Downer said that while the attacks were "utterly horrific" it would be irresponsible
to withdraw troops until Iraq had been helped to build a secure and democratic future.

"I do think the difficulties in Iraq, tragic as they are, underline the need for us
to behave responsibly," Mr Downer said.

"Whether it's popular, or whether it's not popular, we have a responsibility to tell
the Australian people what is responsible, and cutting and running out of Iraq, that's
not responsible."

AAP mf/gfr/jv/tnf

KEYWORD: IRAQ DOWNER

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