Australia to take its highest command in Iraq war

CANBERRA - Australia will step up to its most senior role in the Iraq conflict when it takes command of naval forces in northern Gulf waters in April.

Australian forces will be in charge of protecting oil rigs and deterring smugglers in the northern Persian Gulf region from late April and will start training Iraqis in logistic supply for their defence force.

The extra responsibilities will undoubtedly stretch Australian resources in the Gulf region, prompting defence minister Robert Hill to say the government had never ruled out sending more troops to Iraq.

He said now was not the time to think about winding down Australia's commitment to the strife-torn country, following the first democratic elections in decades.

"We've never ruled out more troops but they are decisions that government takes in the circumstances of our ongoing evaluation," Senator Hill told ABC television.

"For the moment, we are going to take over command of the naval force at the northern end of the Gulf.

"This will be at a higher level of command than we've ever held before so that's a contribution of reinforcement in a way.

"We are also about to start training Iraqis in managing the logistics supply for their defence force."

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley outlined Labor's position on withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq, saying only the navy, air force and defence personnel protecting diplomats should stay.

He said troops involved in logistics and planning should be part of a United Nations team and the rest should be sent home.

"They (have) got 1800 soldiers there, and sailors and airmen," Mr Beazley told ABC radio.

"We say the sailors and airmen stay.

"We say in Iraq itself the soldiers who are protecting our diplomats -- they should stay.

"We say that the soldiers who are currently doing logistics, planning and the like for the coalition perhaps should do that for the United Nations to encourage them to stay and make a contribution.

"The rest the government ought to be pulling out."

Mr Beazley said the government should be focusing on the South East Asian region rather than Iraq.

Meanwhile, Senator Hill said the Iraqi election result showed Iraqis relished the opportunity to determine their own future through the ballot box.

"Now they need the continuing support of the international community to be able to consolidate that," he said.

"They don't want the international force any longer than is necessary but they know that they're not able to provide for their own security through this process of transition without the help of an international force.

"Our position is that the international community should seize the moment and the momentum created through the election and be locking in the support for the mass of the Iraq people that really want an opportunity for freedom and democracy and the chance to live a better life."

- AAP