Australian Parties Divide Over Inquiry Into Govt's Involvement In Iraq War

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 17, 2003

Australian Parties Divide Over Inquiry Into Govt's Involvement In Iraq War

The Australian Opposition and minor parties have divided over an inquiry into the Howard government who involved the Iraqi war based at the unproved claims on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

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The Australian Opposition and minor parties have divided over an inquiry into the Howard government who involved the Iraqi war based at the unproved claims on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Australian Associated Press reported Tuesday that the Opposition appears set to back an inquiry by the Howard government itself into intelligence of Iraq's weapons programs.

The paper quoted Labor defense spokesman Chris Evans as saying that the standing committee responsible for the intelligence services would be the best place to conduct such an inquiry.

The Australian government involved the country in the American-led war against Iraq, claiming the latter have hidden weapons of mass destruction and posed a threat to the international community.But so far no evidence of them have been found.

The minor party Greens urged a senate inquiry. Greens leader Bob Brown said allowing the intelligence committee to investigate would be handing control of the inquiry to the prime minister. "Itis falling into the trap of putting the government in control of an inquiry which is basically into the government itself," Brown said.

The cries do not threat the government. Without Greens support in the Senate, the Opposition will need government backing to refer the matter to the intelligence committee, which covered the main intelligence agencies in the country but not the Defense Intelligence Organization or the Office of National Assessments within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

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