Fed: Australians helping to capture Osama bin Laden - govt

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2001
Fed: Australians helping to capture Osama bin Laden - govt

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - Australians were playing a part in helping coalition troops close
in on capturing al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a government frontbencher said today.

Liberal MP Ross Cameron confirmed reports Australians were working with US Marines
at their base outside Kandahar in Afghanistan.

"The Australian troops have been there for some time," Mr Cameron told Channel Seven.

"We are now at the pointy end of the business in terms of particularly trying to penetrate
their cave networks and find Osama bin Laden.

"I think it's fair to say that Australians are playing their part but at a time like
this we are reluctant to go into chapter and verse about exactly what our soldiers are
doing."

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said he had been briefed on Australia's
commitment to the war by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer last week and was anxious for
Australians to be prepared for casualties.

"When we commit troops abroad we must accept the possibly of casualties," he said on
Channel Seven.

"This is a very, very difficult and delicate stage of the operation.

"These troops that we have sent as part of Australia's military contribution are among
our finest."

A total of 150 Special Air Service troops were committed to serving in the war on terrorism.

AAP sm/ph

KEYWORD: TERROR AUST

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