Fed: Latham refuses to buckle to govt attacks

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2004
Fed: Latham refuses to buckle to govt attacks

CANBERRA, April 1 AAP - Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham is refusing to buckle
under government attacks on his position on Iraq, instead widening his assault on Prime
Minister John Howard.

The two have been at each other since Mr Latham signalled Labor would bring home Australia's
troops in Iraq by Christmas.

Mr Howard has focused on Mr Latham's credibility over his claim to have had lengthy
discussions about Iraq with defence and foreign affairs officials.

But Mr Latham turned the attack on Mr Howard, saying his claims were the sign of a
prime minister facing political oblivion.

"It is always sad to see a politician at the end of his long career, the twilight months
of his long career, thrashing around for an issue," Mr Latham said.

Mr Howard released letters from the head of the top secret Defence Signals Directorate
(DSD) and Defence Department Secretary Ric Smith, both denying Mr Latham has been briefed
on Iraq.

But Mr Latham said after the briefing from the DSD his position on Australian troops
in Iraq, and the government's policies, had hardened.

"I walked away from that briefing knowing and understanding that the government's policy
in Iraq was a fiasco, an absolute fiasco," Mr Latham said.

AAP sw/cjh/de

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST DAYLEAD

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