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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 23, 2002

US Will Probably Take Some Action Against Iraq: Austrailan PM

Australian Prime Minister John Howard predicted Friday that the United States would take some action against Iraq.


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Australian Prime Minister John Howard predicted Friday that the United States would take some action against Iraq.

John Howard was quoted by the Australian Associated Press as saying, "I formed a judgment that more probably than not, some action would be taken by the United States. I don't expect it to be in the very near future."

On Australia's reaction to the possible US military strike, the prime minister said his views on Iraq had not changed. "Obviously if we were asked, we would give it serious consideration. But I have not made any advance commitment and we have not been asked to make any advance commitment," he said.

He didn't mention the alleged links between Iraq and Al Qaeda, once an excuse the United States used to threaten with a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, but focused at the issue of Iraqi obeying the United Nations resolutions on weapon inspection. "If Iraq were to comply fully and genuinely with those resolutions, then that would transform the character of this whole issue overnight," Howard said.

Earlier this week, a poll here indicated that 57 percent of the Australians disapproved Australia's participation in a United States-led attack on Iraq and 47 percent thought there was too much support for the US foreign policy.

The Australian government's support to the pre-emptive strike policy of the US administration in its war against terrorism has been criticised and caused concern in the country.


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