Fed: Troops will remain despite kidnap threat- Howard

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2004
Fed: Troops will remain despite kidnap threat- Howard

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has indicated that a warning from a radical Iraqi cleric
won't persuade him to withdraw Australia's troops.

Shi'ite cleric MAQTADA AL-SADR has warned that Australia troops and civilians are kidnap targets.

At the same time, Honduras has joined Spain in deciding to withdraw its forces from Iraq.

But Mr HOWARD says he doesn't believe many Australians would expect their government
to succumb to the kind of threat made by the cleric.

A spokesman for AL-SADR says he's against the kidnapping of innocent people whose countries
are not occupying Iraq.

But nationals of countries involved in the occupation are potential targets.

AAP RTV mfh/jo/rp/lma

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST (CANBERRA)

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