Barack Obama spent the US Independence Day holiday in the western state of Montana, watching a parade, eating a hot dog and trying to woo moderate voters in the traditionally Republican stronghold.

Barack Obama, who hoped to woo moderate voters in traditionally Republican territory on his US Independence Day campaign tour, found himself instead defending against criticism that he was wavering on Iraq war policy to win votes.

Australia’s prime minister-elect today said he would pull his country’s combat troops out of Iraq by mid-2008 – setting a timetable for the withdrawal he has promised previously.