Howard stands firm on Iraq as Australia heads to the polls

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister John Howard gave his last nationally televised campaign speech yesterday as he bids for a fourth three-year term. He didn’t mention Iraq once.

But as soon as he stopped speaking, reporters started firing questions at him about a report by Charles Duelfer, the head of the US Iraq Survey Group, which said Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction program was made up of hopes and dreams by the time of the US-led invasion last year.

Mr Howard, the 65-year-old leader of Australia’s conservative government, sent 2,000 troops to take part in the invasion - one of his most unpopular decisions in more than eight years as national leader.