APSN | PM says Australian troops to stay in Afghanistan

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PM says Australian troops to stay in Afghanistan

Associated Press - June 23, 2011

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Canberra, Australia – Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia's plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by 2014 is unchanged by President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw 10,000 US troops by the end of the year.

Gillard told reporters Thursday that Australia's 1,550 troops will remain in Uruzgan province training Afghan soldiers until the Afghans can take responsibility for security in the province.

She says Australia's "work in Uruzgan would continue in the same way," despite Obama announcing that 33,000 US troops will be brought home by next summer.

Australia is the largest troop contributor to Afghanistan outside NATO.