Australia urges UN role in Iraq

Australia urges UN role in Iraq

Australian troops are helping in de-mining operations

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said the post-war US military administration in Iraq should be as brief as possible.

Mr Downer, speaking before his departure on Monday for talks in Washington on the war, said that Australian troops would not stay in Iraq after the conflict has ended.

Echoing comments by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, the foreign minister said the UN must take a major role in any transitional government.

The provision of 2,000 troops by Canberra to the war has prompted some strong opposition by the Australian public.

Police warned on Monday that they would crack down hard on any violence at a protest planned this week in Sydney, after a rally in the city last week turned riotous.

Mr Downer left Canberra on Monday for briefings in Washington on the progress of the conflict in Iraq, including its humanitarian aspects.

He said he would urge Washington to hand over post-conflict administration of Iraq to the UN and the Iraqi people as soon as possible.

"We think it's very important that the Iraqis themselves get back to governing Iraq. That's more likely to happen step by step... with Iraqis managing non-controversial ministries - that can be done very quickly," Mr Downer said.

His comments underlined a statement by Australian Prime Minister John Howard last week, that: "We have no designs on the territorial future - never have, never will," he said.

De-mining

Mr Downer added that Australia had no plans to send extra troops, as the US is doing.

Neither did Canberra envisage withdrawing its troops before the war was over, he said.

"I think it's terribly important now the war is under way we ... make sure that it's prosecuted successfully with the minimum of civilian casualties and that it can be over as quickly as possible," he said.

A defence spokesman said on Monday that Australian mine clearance experts had been called in to dismantle a haul of explosives and weapons found in a school in Iraq's southern port city of Umm Qasr.

Australian divers are also working to clear a sunken boat loaded with mines discovered near the grain terminal in Umm Qasr.

They are working to open a channel for humanitarian aid supplies to enter the Iraqi port.