Ahern and Howard vow to aid Iraq’s fledgling government

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and Australian Prime Minister John Howard yesterday pledged they would do whatever they could to assist the new Iraqi government.

Speaking during a joint conference to mark Mr Howard’s first official visit to Ireland, they expressed their hope for “peaceful advances in the Middle East” under the “national unity” administration of Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds.

Mr Ahern said: “Once there was a UN resolution (on Iraq), we assisted in every way that we could. And I think all of us want to work to see a better Iraq.”