BAGHDAD, July 25(Online): Australian Prime Minister John Howard arrived on Monday on an unannounced visit to Baghdad where he was having talks with Iraqi Premier Ibrahim Jaafari, Jaafari\'s office said.Australia, a strong US ally, has about 900 troops in Iraq.
Howard has refused to spell out a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq, saying it would depend on a range of factors, including the ability of local security forces to work effectively against the insurgency and of the democratic structures to function.
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