Canberra (Australia) rejects UN request

[DuctapeFatwa]

AUSTRALIA has quietly rejected diplomatic overtures from the United Nations and the US to contribute to a military force to protect UN officials in Iraq.

The requests, made through Australia's diplomatic missions in New York and Washington, came as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was struggling to gain international support for a security force to protect UN officials working in Iraq.

With only a handful of small nations, including Fiji, responding to the call for help, the UN has had to fall back on the fully stretched US military for protection. It has sought at least 500 military personnel or police as well as other specialist advisers to ensure the security of the UN mission in Baghdad.

http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,11103388%255E401,00.html