Australia PM in US for Iraq talks

Howard suffered a vote of no-confidence over Iraq

By Phil Mercer BBC correspondent in Sydney

One of Washington's staunchest allies, Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, has left for Washington for further talks on Iraq.

The prime minister said he believed the world was heading towards war and said any weakness by the United Nations would be treated with contempt.

Mr Howard leaves behind in Australia a simmering debate over Iraq, as opposition to the government's policies intensify.

Australia's conservative government has committed 2,000 troops and military hardware to the US-led build-up in the Gulf - it is biggest ever combat deployment since the Vietnam War.

War 'closer'

It has been a tough week for John Howard.

There have been all sorts of anti-war protests in Australia

After telling parliament it was time for the international community to finally deal with the menace of Saddam Hussein, he suffered an unprecedented vote of no confidence in the upper house of parliament.

The Senate censured the Prime Minister for his handling of the Iraq crisis.

Mr Howard will push for a "strong and unanimous" second United Nations resolution against Baghdad during his week-long trip overseas, but the Australian leader believes war is getting closer.

"The most responsible thing for the government to do is to hold back right until a decision has to be taken," he said.

"I think we are getting to the end-game. I don't think there's much doubt about that at all."

Fierce debate

Mr Howard will meet President Bush in Washington on Monday.

He is guaranteed a warm welcome.

There should be no support for unilateral action and no support for military action outside what the UN determines

Labor leader Simon Crean

Apart from Britain, Australia is the only other country to contribute to the build up of US forces in the Gulf.

But, back home, the debate over Australia's involvement has been fierce.

A prominent opposition Labor MP, Mark Latham told parliament the world could not trust the American leader.

"Bush himself is the most incompetent and dangerous President in living memory," he said.

In an unusual diplomatic move, the US Ambassador in Canberra, Tom Schieffer, weighed into the debate, clearly worried that anti-US feeling could cloud Australia's discussions on Iraq.

He said Mark Latham's comments were "very personal and emotional".

"I think there is some concern on some of the rhetoric that's been used in the last few days.

"It's not the sort of thing you couldn't read without having some concern about the relationship between the two countries," he said.

Call for unity

Australia's Labor opposition is insisting the government is wrong to back US-led action without authority from the United Nations.

Opinion polls here suggest most Australians think so too.

Australian forces have left for the Gulf

While not condoning the comments that labelled President Bush "dangerous and incompetent", Labor leader Simon Crean says the UN not the United States should take responsibility for disarming Iraq.

"People will make those statements and I don't think they help the debate but really they are a sideshow to the main issue," he said.

"There should be no support for unilateral action and no support for military action outside what the UN determines."

Prime Minister Howard will meet his UK counterpart Tony Blair in London next week before travelling to Jakarta, where he will discuss the prospect of war with Indonesia's President, Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Before leaving Australia, Mr Howard called for a strong, united international approach to ensure Iraq disarms.