According to the Australian Associated Press, Downer told reporters in Sydney "We're not going to keep any significant number of troops in Iraq in the post-conflict situation."

On an interim administration in Iraq after the conflict ends, the foreign minister said "we would like it to be as brief as possible."

"It's very important that Iraqis themselves get back to governing Iraq," he said.

Despite an earlier report saying Australia will be let to provisionally govern a part of the Iraqi land after the war, the foreign minister stressed Australian forces will withdraw from Iraq once the war ends.

He was optimistic about Australian companies' opportunity of gaining their shares of post-war reconstruction contracts. "We believe there are good opportunities for Australia in terms of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq," he said.

About 2,000 Australian soldiers are fighting Iraqis along with the US and UK troops. Australian media complained these days that the US monopolized all reconstruction contracts saying "The US shutting us out from post-war goodies."

Downer flew on Monday to the United States to talk with the US government and UN officials about the conflict in Iraq and post-war reconstruction. The Australian Associated Press said he will also use his visit to discuss commercial opportunities for Australian companies in post-war Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2003)