Australia pledges support for Iraq

Australia has promised support for Iraq and says it will contribute over 156 million US dollars to help reconstruction efforts.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith made the comment after talks with Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Bahram Saleh during his visit to Baghdad.

The foreign minister's visit comes as Australia starts withdrawing troops from Iraq. This is part of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's election promise to withdraw Australian combat troops by the middle of 2008.