Australia to withdraw troops from Timor-Leste
22/10/2008 17:20
Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said in Canberra today his
country was to withdraw the number of soldiers operating in Timor-Leste because
of the improved security situation.
Fitzgibbon said the Australian Defense
Force would cut back its total force presence in Timor-Leste to approximately
650 personnel by early next year.
Currently, the Australian-led International
Stabilisation Force (ISF) comprises around 750 Australian troops plus some from
New Zealand.
"The reduction in the total number of deployed personnel under
Operation Astute is appropriate given improvements in the security situation in
East Timor," Fitzgibbon said in a statement.
He said the Australian
government was encouraged by the growing ability of the East Timorese agencies,
with support from the United Nations, to deal with security.
"The East
Timorese authorities have shown through their professional handling of the
security situation that the time is now right for some draw-down of the
Australian ISF presence," he said.
But he said Australia would also maintain
the ability to rapidly reinforce the ISF at short notice if required, as was
demonstrated earlier this year following the assassination attempt directed at
the nation's political leaders.
Following the draw-down, the force will total
790 Australian and New Zealand personnel.
Xinhua
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