Iraq war hasn't helped terror fight-Australia poll

SYDNEY, Oct 2 (Reuters) Australia will not alter its commitment to Iraq, the conservative government said today, despite a poll showing an overwhelming majority of Australians believe the war has not reduced the threat of terrorism.

A poll of 1,007 people by think-tank The Lowy Institute found that 84 percent of respondents thought that the threat of terrorism had not been reduced 3-{ years after the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.

More than two-thirds of respondents also disagreed when asked if they thought the war would lead to the spread of democracy through the West Asia. Australia is a staunch U.S. ally and was among the first to commit troops to the 2003 Iraq invasion. It still has about 1,400 defence force personnel in and around Iraq and has vowed not to pull them out despite increasing violence.

Australian Treasurer Peter Costello said it was important that Australia maintain its commitment to Iraq to help it make a successful transition to democracy.

''It's important the situation is stabilised, that law and order is maintained, so that democratic government can survive and Australia is making a contribution to that,'' Costello told reporters in Melbourne.

Australia's Labor opposition described the war as ''a spectacular policy failure''. Labor has committed to bringing Australia's troops home if it wins power at elections next year, leaving only enough soldiers to guard diplomatic staff.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer rejected the poll's findings, saying the questions were skewed, and slammed Labor's plans to pull out troops.

''If that were to happen that would be a triumph for terrorists, it would give terrorists an enormous boost, they would take over the whole of Iraq, they would be able to use Iraq as a launching pad for further terrorist attacks around the world and as a training ground,'' Mr Downer told reporters in Adelaide.

Reuters BDP DB1241