Fed: Downer sees elusive WMD as no big issue

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2004
Fed: Downer sees elusive WMD as no big issue

As Australian experts help to continue the search for Iraq's elusive weapons of mass
destruction, Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER has dismissed the failure to find stockpiles
as no big issue.

And Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has denied the government is leaking a parliamentary
committee's report on how Australia's spy agencies handled pre-war intelligence.

The government says it will decide whether an independent inquiry is needed after the
committee reports on March the 1st.

The failure to find WMD stockpiles has led to growing pressure from Labor's foreign
affairs spokesman, KEVIN RUDD, and the minor parties for a royal commission-style inquiry.

AAP RTV dw/sw/jas/wz/rt&

KEYWORD: IRAQ WMD DOWNER (CANBERRA) WITH AUDIO

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