Australia to send troops to Afghanistan ahead of Sep election
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-18 15:43

Australia will send 150 elite troops to Afghanistan before landmark elections there on September 18 to help quell a violent insurgency, Australia's foreign minister announced Thursday during a visit by his Afghan counterpart, reported AP.

"They'll be there in early September," Alexander Downer said of the Special Air Service Regiment to be deployed in Afghanistan for one year.

"And we are looking very favorably on contributing to a provincial reconstruction team around March or April next year," Downer added at a joint press conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Abdullah, on his first visit to Australia since November 2002, said he was delighted by the promised contribution of Australian forces for combat and reconstruction.

"We are very pleased to see that Australia is considering it favorably and we're looking forward to that," Abdullah said after officially opening the new Afghan Embassy in the capital Canberra. "I should say that the role of the provincial reconstruction teams has been a very successful, positive one."

Abdullah declined to comment on whether the 12-month special forces deployment would be long enough, nor would he suggest where he thought Australian forces should be sent.

"Wherever they will be located, they will be a part of those joint efforts by the intentional community to bring full security to the country," Abdullah said.

Downer said it was important that remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaida be prevented from disrupting Afghan elections.

"They're a tiny minority of people and you should never let the opponents of freedom destroy freedom," Downer said.

Australia sent troops to support the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan in late 2001 but only one Australian soldier involved in mine clearance remains.

Downer revealed Australia was considering opening an embassy in Kabul although that would not happen in the current fiscal year which ends on June 30, 2006.

Abdullah, who arrived in Australia late Wednesday, was also scheduled to meet Prime Minister John Howard, Defense Minister Robert Hill and Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone in Canberra later Thursday.

Abdullah will leave Saturday for New Zealand where he was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Helen Clark.

New Zealand has a 40-strong elite commando unit currently fighting insurgents in Afghanistan and a 120-member Provincial Reconstruction Team working in the northern province of Bamiyan.

Close

Japanese PM launches general election campaign Katrina slams US Gulf Coast, oil rigs adrift Japan's 6 parties square off in TV debate

Today's Top News     Top World News
President Hu Jintao: Gender equality crucial         Special grants offered to poor students         EU takes steps to unblock China textiles         Farmers sue county for illegal land use         Search for 123 trapped miners suspended         Hurricane Katrina rocks New Orleans	Bush promises post-storm help for victims       Sharon: Not all settlements in final deal       Hurricane Katrina rocks New Orleans       Sri Lanka PM focuses on ending civil war       Musharraf warns Pakistan Islamic schools       Katrina may cost insurers $25 bln