CANBERRA, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Thursday that the Iraqi government wants its forces in Muthanna province to be ready to take over in 12 months from the Australian troops.

    Australia now maintained about 950 military personnel in the Middle East, with 400 in Iraq. Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced last week that Australia will send 450 more troops to Iraq's southern province of Muthanna to protect Japanese engineers and help train local forces.

    "We are working toward this very objective," Allawi told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

    Allawi said the province is relatively peaceful but there is a risk Australian soldiers will be killed or injured there.

    "In the course of action, maybe people will be hurt but this is something that we ought to face," he said.

    "Muthanna itself is a safe area, relatively speaking. I was there last month and saw the people. It's a good area, friendly, and we hope, the Australians will be able to also expedite the training of the forces in Muthanna," he said.

    Allawi said Australia is not about to get bogged down in Iraq.

    "I don't think this will happen. I think for Australia to send troops here is very important, to keep them for some time is very important, to show solidarity with Iraq is very important," he said. Enditem