Australian PM rules out big increase in troops number in Iraq

Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday denied a major increase in the number of Australian troops in Iraq, but did not rule out a small increase.

Australia, a staunch ally of the United States, is a member of the US-led coalition forces in Iraq and still maintains nearly 900military personnel in and around the post-war Middle East country.

Howard dismissed reports earlier this week that the government was considering increasing its troop numbers in Iraq by 200.

"We don't at the moment believe there is any case for us makingany major increase in our contribution," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

Australia had no ability to increase its contribution to the coalition in Iraq given its other major troop commitments, Howard said, adding there could be "some adjustment at the margin that could result in a few more people going" in the future.

Howard will detail Australia's future role in Iraq, in Melbourne,capital of Victoria state later Wednesday, amid debates on whether the troops should be withdrawn when more violence arosein Iraq triggered by the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American troops.

He is expected to reject growing calls for Australian troops to be pulled out as soon as possible.

Source: Xinhua