NZ troops to stay in Iraq

By HELEN TUNNAH and AGENCIES

New Zealand's troops remain confined to their Basra camp after bomb blasts killed scores of Iraqis in the city, but Prime Minister Helen Clark says they will not be brought home.

She said New Zealand's commitment to completing reconstruction work remained, despite the explosions and the withdrawals of troops from other countries including Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

United States Secretary of State Colin Powell has this week lobbied nations with troops in Iraq, telephoning 13 Governments that are either a part of the US-led coalition or have forces there on reconstruction work.

Helen Clark said yesterday that New Zealand had not been contacted.

"I'm not aware of any approaches.

"The mantra for the record is the New Zealand engineers will stay for as long as they are able to do their job," she said.

"Obviously on a day like this they stay in their tents, stay in their camp."

She said a decision on whether troops could undertake reconstruction work was made by the senior national officer in Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Ants Howie, who is based at Basra international airport with British forces.

Only the Government could decide to withdraw the troops.

"Our attitude's always been clear, if they can get on with their work they should stay until the end of the deployment."

The 61 mainly engineers in Iraq began their six-month deployment last month. At Easter they were also confined to their base camp at Fortress Lines because of a surge of violence in the southern port city.

This week's car bomb attacks went off within minutes of each other on Wednesday morning (Iraq time), killing 68 people, including 17 children, and injuring hundreds.

Colonel Ants Howie said yesterday that the New Zealanders would remain at Fortress Lines, about half an hour's drive from central Basra, but they could be back on reconstruction work within a day or so.

The troops would keep a low profile for security reasons, and out of respect for mourning Iraqis.

"The intention is to be out of the way," he said.

"There has been an enormous number of people killed and wounded, including children, so we have to be sensitive and mindful of allowing the Iraqis time to grieve."

He said a demonstration had been planned for central Basra overnight (NZT), and those gatherings could be used by groups to whip people into a state of agitation.

He said it was common sense to remain within the base if people might target troops working on reconstruction work. It is unclear who was responsible for the bombings in the mainly Shi'ite Muslim city, but Colonel Howie confirmed that no New Zealanders were near any of the explosions.

He said last night it had been calm since the bombings.

Australian troops in Basra also escaped the blasts. Prime Minister John Howard yesterday acknowledged that Australian soldiers in Iraq were in danger.

"People shouldn't take for granted, just because we have had a casualty-free involvement, thank God, so far, that that will continue indefinitely.

"I certainly hope it does."

Mr Howard said he did not believe the US-led coalition was unravelling, but added the withdrawal of troops by some countries was to be regretted and helped "terrorists".

"It will make it harder for those who are left, no doubt about that."

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff met Mr Powell in Washington two weeks ago, and reinforced New Zealand's commitment to reconstruction work.

Herald Feature: Iraq