Diggers 'may need to exit Iraq soon'

Australian troops may be required to leave Iraq when a United Nations mandate for
coalition forces expires at the end of the year, a senior Iraqi MP says.
And Dr Haider al Abadi, chair of Iraq's economy, reconstruction and investment
committee, says there are no ongoing talks for a status of forces agreement between
Australia and Iraq, which would allow diggers to remain.
He is part of a 10-member delegation from Iraq's Council of Representatives visiting
Canberra on Wednesday and Thursday.
In line with the Rudd government's election commitment, combat forces left Iraq in
the middle of the year but, according to the Defence website, Australia still has
980 troops involved in Operation Catalyst.
They are based in Iraq and around the Middle East.
The number based in Iraq is unclear but includes the 110-strong Australian Security
Detachment (SECDET), which guards Australian diplomats in Baghdad.
Dr al Abadi said Australia had played a crucial role in training Iraqi security
forces, and its forces had a very positive image in his homeland.
"(But) the Australian presence in the security field, I don't think it will be
needed any further," he told reporters.
"Now there is a great role for Australia and Australian firms to take part in the
building of the infrastructure of Iraq."
Last month Iraqi politicians voted for a withdrawal of United States forces by 2011.
Coalition forces presently operate under a UN mandate, which expires at the end of
this year.
Without a status of forces agreement in place with Australia, Dr al Abadi believes
it may be necessary for Australian troops in Iraq to leave when the mandate expires.
"At the moment there is no treaty, no agreement between Iraq and Australia for
Australian forces, only the one agreement with the US forces," he said.
"I don't think the Australian forces can stay beyond the end of this year without
this agreement.
"We have look at that back in Iraq - I don't think there are even negotiations going
on between the two countries, so my understanding is Australian forces are probably
going to leave by the end of the year."
The only exception would be forces guarding Australian diplomats.
The Iraqi delegation is expected to meet Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon on Thursday.
His office was not immediately available for comment.