Australia remains committed to Afghanistan: PM

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday said she remains committed to the Australian mission in Afghanistan despite a warning of rising casualties.

"The danger continues," Gillard told reporters while campaigning in outer Melbourne on Wednesday.

"It is what they call fighting season in Afghanistan and of course this is a dangerous mission."

Australian troops were well trained and well led, Gillard told Australian Associated Press.

"They are committed to the mission and I am committed to the mission."

Australia has some 1,550 troops in Afghanistan, stationed mostly in Oruzgan province in the volatile south.

So far 17 Australian soldiers have died since 2001, six so far this year.

The new U.S. commander in Oruzgan province Colonel Jim Creighton has lately warned of a possible increase in the Australian death toll as fighting in neighboring Kandahar and Helmand provinces displaces insurgents into Oruzgan.

Source: Xinhua