Australian role deepens despite shooting fiasco

CANBERRA - Australia has made a new, open-ended military commitment to Iraq - even in the face of outrage in Baghdad over the fatal shooting of a minister's security squad at the hands of Australian troops.

Prime Minister John Howard's statement to Parliament came only hours after Iraqi Trade Minister Abdel Falah al-Sudani labelled the shooting an act of "intentional and unwarranted aggression" and threatened a ban on trade with Australia.

The new commitment - to a more dangerous region that could include combat roles - runs counter to political and public opposition to Australia's presence in Iraq.

Labor Leader Kim Beazley described Iraq as a quagmire and said a military commitment was not in the national interest. "We should never have gone to Iraq in the first place and we should not be there now."

Two recent opinion polls showed most Australians oppose the commitment.

Howard's statement made no reference to the killing of one of Sudani's bodyguards, the wounding of three others and two civilians. But Canberra has been greatly embarrassed by the shooting. Both the Defence Force and the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department are investigating.

The only official response was given by the Vice-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, in a brief statement confirming the bare details. "The ADF deeply regrets the injuries and loss of life that has occurred."

The shooting came as members of the 110-strong Australian Army unit providing security to diplomats and officials escorted a trade official through the Iraqi capital.

It is believed that the soldiers became concerned when a white 4WD began following the convoy, driven by men in civilian clothes and armed with AK-47 assault rifles. As the vehicle drew close the soldiers opened fire, sending the 4WD head-on into a light pole.

But neither this nor the more dangerous nature of the job now facing Australian troops has deterred Howard: "Let me be very clear - Australia will not be hostage to a particular timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. We will only leave when the job has been finished."

Australian troops have been protecting 600 Japanese engineers in the southern province of Muthanna, who will return home next month. Security in the province will also be handed back to Iraqi forces.

A new Australian battle and training group, including an armoured car combat team from the Brisbane-based 2nd/1st Light Horse Regiment, and another of motorised infantry from the Royal Australian Regiment's Townsville-based 2nd Battalion, will instead operate from an American base at Tallil, in the neighbouring province of Dhi Quar.

Although relatively quiet compared to other parts of Iraq, the province is far more dangerous than Muthanna - 32 Italian soldiers and contractors have been killed there since 2003.

The Australians will train Iraqi soldiers and provide reconstruction assistance in such areas as transport, health and veterinary and agricultural services.

They will also support the Iraqi authorities in crisis situations, which could involve communications, command and control, intelligence and surveillance and - in extreme cases - direct military action.

"There may have been strong views either way on the original decision to go to Iraq, but there should be complete agreement on all sides now that this is not the time to leave the Iraqi people to their own devices - in other words, cut and run," Howard said.

"Iraq is an active battleground in the 'war on terrorism'. To leave Iraq prematurely would not only destabilise the Middle East. It would also provide comfort and strength to extremists all around the world."

THE SHOOT FIRST POLICY

What happened?

* An Iraqi Interior Ministry source said guards with an Australian trade delegation fired at the bodyguards, killing one and wounding five other people.

* The shooting happened as they left Trade Minister Abdel Falah al-Sudani's compound.

* Reuters footage showed the Iraqi bodyguards' vehicle crashed into a pole and peppered with bullets.

* Iraqi police said it appeared the Australians had mistaken the bodyguards, who were dressed in civilian clothes and armed with AK-47 rifles, for insurgents.

Dealing with the damage

* In Baghdad, security guards are routinely alert for the threat posed by suicide car bombings.

* US soldiers have in the past shot dead civilians they believed had come too close to their convoys.

* Sudani has demanded compensation for families.

* An Iraqi family was paid A$53,000 ($64,000) for the accidental death of a member at the hands of Australian troops.

* It was the fourth such "act of grace" payment made by Australia since the war in Iraq began, but the first for the death of a person.