SAS troops to stay in Afghanistan

12.00pm

New Zealand has no plans to withdraw its crack Specialist Air Services (SAS) troops from Afghanistan, a spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.

Australia's elite special forces troops will be home by Christmas following a credible terrorist threat there and possibly in anticipation of being sent to Iraq should action be taken there.

But Helen Clark's spokesman said there were no plans for New Zealand troops to be brought home.

"We have a small force of SAS that cannot be rotated indefinitely in Afghanistan," the spokesman said.

"But we don't have any plans right now to announce any return."

Foreign Affairs minister Phil Goff said today that New Zealand's commitment in Afghanistan meant there was little likelihood of combat or military involvement in any action against Iraq - even if it was sanctioned by the United Nations.

The United States is sounding out about 50 countries about what they could contribute to action against Iraq if it fails to comply with UN weapons inspection requirements.

New Zealand had not been asked, but Mr Goff said it was only a matter of time.

"Frankly, given the fact that we are just in the process of taking people from East Timor, given the commitment we already have in Afghanistan, which is part of Operation Enduring Freedom... we have a very small likelihood of being able to make any sort of combat or military contribution, even as the result of a UN resolution," Mr Goff told National Radio.

"But, obviously, if the UN passes a resolution we would consider what assistance we could give. My thinking would be that that is unlikely to be of a combat nature at this point because of the other commitments New Zealand has had or currently has."

Green MP Keith Locke said it was heartening that the Australian government was bringing its troops home and urged Miss Clark to let the public know when New Zealand's contingent would head home.

"The Australians have always been more open about their activities than our leaders," he said in a statement.

"This is the Government that didn't tell us when the troops went, how many there were, where they're based and what they're doing in our name."

- NZPA