Australia rejects UN request

[DBAHO]

AUSTRALIA has quietly rejected diplomatic overtures from the United Nations and the US to contribute to a military force to protect UN officials in Iraq.

 

The requests, made through Australia's diplomatic missions in New York and Washington, came as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was struggling to gain international support for a security force to protect UN officials working in Iraq.

 

With only a handful of small nations, including Fiji, responding to the call for help, the UN has had to fall back on the fully stretched US military for protection. It has sought at least 500 military personnel or police as well as other specialist advisers to ensure the security of the UN mission in Baghdad.

 

The lack of adequately trained security forces has handicapped the UN in its determination to assume a wider role in Iraq and assist the Iraqi Government with planning for the January 2005 national election.

 

The safety of its officials has been a fundamental concern since a massive truck bomb attack in Baghdad in August 2003 killed UN personnel, including special representative to Iraq Sergio Viera de Mello.

 

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer confirmed the informal requests yesterday, saying that many countries had been approached to supply security forces for the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq.

 

He denied that Australia had come under any overt pressure to lift its military contribution to Iraq.

 

Mr Downer stressed there were no plans to lift Australia's troop contribution there, which currently includes about 250 servicemen and women based in Baghdad.

 

"We have done a fairly substantial job in Iraq," he said. "We don't have any intention of sending more troops."

 

The US-led multinational force in Iraq is struggling to contain a steadily growing insurgency across Iraq. Military experts concede there are simply not enough troops on the ground to properly stabilise the country in the lead-up to the January elections.

 

Senior Australian military officers believe it is only a matter of time before a more formal US request is made for extra Australian military assistance in Iraq.

 

John Howard has said consistently that Australia would not send extra troops to Iraq, after having made a vital contribution at the "sharp end" of the war in March-April of 2003.

 

Australia has about 920 servicemen and women in Iraq, including more than 200 in Baghdad.

 

The Government announced last week that Canberra would provide training and equipment to the Fijian army, which will provide a guard unit and a personal protection detachment to UNAMI.

 

"Australia strongly supports UN efforts to establish a significant presence in Iraq, involving the full range of agencies and with appropriate security protection," the two ministers said.