Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Tuesday that Australian civilians and troops will stay in Iraq although the hostage situation is worrying there.

Commenting on an increasing number of foreigners kidnapped in Iraq, Howard told Nine Network TV that there is no need to order Australians to leave Iraq.

"Everybody is at some degree of risk and we are in contact through our office as best we can with the 60-80 Australian contractors who are doing different things there," he said

"I am not asking them to get out," he said, adding Australian troops will remain "until the purpose for which they were sent no longer requires their presence."

Since Australia sent 2,000 troops to participate the Iraq war ayear ago, the government has been facing criticism from the publicand the opposition parties. Australia still maintains about 850 military personnel in Iraq now.

Domestic call for Australian withdrawal became stronger when the newly elected Spanish government said it would withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq after bombings in Madrid killed more than200 people on March 11.

But Howard insisted that it does not mean Australians should pull out of Iraq though his government has warned that Australiansin Iraq also face danger of being kidnapped.

"Any suggestion that we get out now in the face of this now will just award victory to the terrorists, award victory to hostage takers, award victory to people I know the great majority of Australians don't want to appear victorious," he said.

Meanwhile, he stressed that he will keep concerned with the Australians staying in Iraq, saying that "I get regular reports about the welfare of our own people and I will continue to do that," he said.

"They are my prime concern," said the prime minister.

Source: Xinhua