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We could be there a while: defence chief

April 19, 2004

Defence chief General Peter Cosgrove today said Australian troops could stay in Iraq for a considerable period, but would not say how long that could be.

The length of the stay of the contingent has been the subject of hot political debate in Australia in recent times, with the Opposition saying the troops would be returned at Christmas if Labor wins government.

The Howard government says Australian troops will stay as long as they are needed.

"I don't want to get into timings. Timings are obviously a matter for government," General Cosgrove told ABC radio.

"We could sustain the deployment we have in Iraq for a considerable period. I don't want to put a time on it.

"We have been sustaining P3s, C-130s, a protected element inside Iraq, the frigate - we've been sustaining that continuously now for some time and we have plans to be able to sustain that into the future."

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said today he had given orders for Spain's 1,400 troops in Iraq to return home as soon as possible.

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