Fed: Howard says Bush pleased about SADDAM's capture

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2003
Fed: Howard says Bush pleased about SADDAM's capture

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says US President GEORGE BUSH is pleased -- but not triumphant
-- about SADDAM HUSSEIN'S capture.

However Mr HOWARD says the United States has carried the burden and suffered a lot
of casualties since the Iraq war phase ended, and Mr BUSH is relieved they finally have
SADDAM.

Mr HOWARD says Mr BUSH called him about 1.30 this morning to give him the news that
US forces had found SADDAM hiding in a hole under a farmhouse near his hometown of Tikrit.

He's told the Nine Network he doesn't regret for a moment sending Australian troops
to Iraq, despite the fact that no weapons of mass destruction have been found in the country.

He says it was the right thing to do, otherwise SADDAM would still be running Iraq
and murdering people.

But the prime minister warns there'll be no sudden end to terrorist attacks in Iraq.

AAP RTV sm/jmt

KEYWORD: IRAQ HOWARD (CANBERRA)

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.