Australia to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 21, 2002

Australia to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan

Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced Wednesday the country's troops fighting in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan will be withdrawn from there by Christmas.

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Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced Wednesday the country's troops fighting in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan will be withdrawn from there by Christmas.

According to the Australian Associated Press, John Howard said in a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australiain Sydney that the government had decided that the current rotation of troops, about 150 from the Special Air Services, would be the last, with troops to be gradually withdrawn from late November.

He said the nature of military operations in Afghanistan had changed over the past 12 months. "Largely as a result of coalition military efforts the tasks for Australian special forces in Afghanistan are now much reduced," he explained.

But he said Australia still had two frigates serving with the interception force in the Persian Gulf, and would send two P-3C Orion aircraft to the Gulf next January.

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