Fed: Govt to bring troops home at end of Iraq conflict-Hill

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Fed: Govt to bring troops home at end of Iraq conflict-Hill

CANBERRA, April 8 AAP - Australian troops would return home at the end of the Iraqwar, but the nation could play a useful role in Iraq's rebuilding, Defence Minister RobertHill said today.

Senator Hill said it remained the government's intention to return troops home as soonas the war ended, and no decision had been made to commit them to so-called phase four- the rebuilding of Iraq.

But he said he expected Australia to play a modest and useful role in postwar reconstructionin areas such as agriculture.

"Our current intention as I said is to bring the forces home at the end of the conflict,"

Senator Hill told ABC Radio.

"Whether we make a contribution in niche areas to phase four ... is yet to be decided."

But Senator Hill said HMAS Sydney, leaving Garden Island for the Gulf today, wouldbe deployed for four months, well into phase four, and he expected Australia to play somerole.

"I'm expecting we will make a contribution to phase four but not a large scale militarycontribution," Senator Hill said.

"We have particular skills say in the agricultural area, dry land farming, there aremany ways in which we as a country can help Iraq rebuild and provide a better future andI hope and expect Australia will play a modest but useful role in that regard."

The government has said it would not provide troops to postwar Iraq, but was accusedyesterday by Greens Senator Bob Brown of buckling to the White House and planning to committroops long term to Iraq's rebuilding.

"The forces we have sent have been sent for the conflict to rid Saddam of weapons ofmass destruction and when that job's done they will be returned," Senator Hill said.

All Australian troops were safe this morning and it was unclear how much longer thewar would last, the minister said.

AAP sal/gl/jlw

KEYWORD: IRAQ HILL