Australia’s military commitment 'enough for now'

Australia's fresh 450-strong military commitment to Iraq was all that was needed for now, a senior United States official said yesterday.

The troops will travel to the Iraqi province of Al Muthanna to help replace 1400 Dutch soldiers who withdrew from the area at the end of last year.

Reductions are now expected in the size of the Ukraine and Polish forces in Iraq. But the US State Department official said he was not aware of any pending requests for Australia to further strengthen its presence.