Gates due in Australia for talks

The United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates is heading to Australia for talks with the country's new government.

He is the highest-ranking official from the Bush administration to visit Canberra since Kevin Rudd defeated John Howard in last November's election.

The new Labor-led government has already announced a withdrawal of 500 combat troops from Iraq.

It has also raised concerns about the military strategy in Afghanistan.

'Continuity'

Australia's former Prime Minister John Howard was one of Washington's closest allies - George W Bush used to call him his deputy sheriff.

But the administration is still taking the measure of Kevin Rudd, who has already displayed his independence by signing up to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and signalling the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.

Robert Gates, the most senior US official to visit Australia since the elections, says he anticipates a "great deal of continuity".

But he admitted that continuity would be accompanied by certain changes as well.

Privately, senior US officials say they are looking for the Rudd government to reaffirm its commitment to the security and defence relationship with Washington.

On Iraq, Mr Rudd has promised to pull 500 Australian combat troops out of the country, but there will be more consensus on Afghanistan.

Washington and Canberra agree on the need for more troops and trainers for local security forces.

They have also tried to pressure European nations to bolster their presence.

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