Australian troop reduction in East Timor on cards

08/09/2008 16:09:59

Australian defence minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, is hopeful Australia will soon be able to consider reducing its military involvement in East Timor although he is unable to commit to a date.

Australia has 750 soldiers and about 100 police officers serving in East Timor as part of the United Nations contingent.

Mr Fitzgibbon acknowledges the environment is still not stabilised enough to consider an immediate troop reduction.

"We're very, very happy with progress in East Timor as is the East Timorese government but peace and stability remains fragile so its pretty clear that we'll be there for some time to come," he said.

"But I like to believe, in the not too distant future and I think that this view is shared by Prime Minister Gusmao, that we could start drawing down our troop numbers in East Timor."

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