Australia re-assigns troops in southern Iraq

CANBERRA, June 20 (Reuters) Australia will re-assign 460 troops protecting Japanese forces in southern Iraq to help the Iraqi military secure the country's border with Syria, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said today.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said his forces will take over security in the southern province of al Muthanna in July, and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is expected to unveil an exit plan for Japanese troops later today.

Nelson said the Australian troops would be redeployed when Japan withdrew.

''The role of our soldiers in al Muthanna will change,'' Nelson told reporters. ''We are negotiating with the provincial Iraqi government and our coalition partners, particularly the British.'' ''It has the potential to be more dangerous for our soldiers. We don't underestimate the risk.'' Nelson said Australia's troops would move to Tallil in al Muthanna from Samawah, where they have been helping protect about 550 Japanese non-combat troops. British troops have been overseeing the multinational contingent in al Muthanna.

Australia was one of the first nations to commit forces to the Iraq war and still has about 1,300 military personnel in and around Iraq.

REUTERS PDS BST0602