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| Australia in row with Spain, Philippines over terror threat |
| | www.chinaview.cn 2004-07-27 21:01:14 |
CANBERRA, July
27 (Xinhuanet) -- Australia has refused to back down from its accusation on
Spain and the Philippines of withdrawal of troops from Iraq, despite a
diplomatic row with the two countries.
Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer said last weekend that the two countries are to blame for a
fresh terrorist treat against Australia.
He was referring to
the threat from the Tawhid Islamic Group, a European wing of the international
terror network Al-Qaeda, last week to turn Australia and Italy into "pools of
blood" if they do not pull out troops from Iraq.
His remarks
draw criticisms from both countries. The Spanish Foreign Ministry summoned
Australian Ambassador Susan Tanner and told her it rejected Downer's comments.
Spanish Government said in a statement that it considers Downer's remarks
"unacceptable."
Philippine National Security Adviser
Norberto Gonzalez said Downer is being "narrow-minded" for attacking
Manila.
Spain pulled out its troops from Iraq following
fatal terror bombings in March. The Philippines ordered its forces out of Iraq
to save the life of its citizen Angelo de la Cruz kidnapped in
Iraq.
Downer says he regrets the diplomatic response from
the two countries and he will not apologize for what he
said.
"I am sensitive about the fact that terrorists use the
examples of Spain and the Philippines in order to put pressure on Australia," he
told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio on Tuesday.
Australia, a close ally of the United States, keeps 880 troops in and around
Iraq. John Howard's government has vowed not to pull out until "the job is
done."
Opposition leader Mark Latham criticized Downer's
comments as unhelpful in the anti-terror fight. "We've got to be co-operative
rather than part of an international blame game," he said on Tuesday, "That's
what the war against terror has got to be about, the elimination of terrorists,
rather than political squabbling."
It is also noted
that Australia is heaping blame on its former coalition partners in Iraq while
the United States does not echo Canberra, making Downer's remarks more
outstanding.
US state department spokesman Adam Ereli has said the United States is not prepared to accuse countries that have withdrawn from Iraq of encouraging terrorism. Enditem |
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