Thursday, March 1, 2012

FED: Australian troops can refuse to fire on civilians

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FED: Australian troops can refuse to fire on civilians

SYDNEY, Feb 15 AAP - Australian troops and airmen will have the right to refuse tofire on civilians in any conflict in Iraq, Defence Force Chief Peter Cosgrove has promised.

The Sun-Herald newspaper reported General Cosgrove would personally support any servicemanwho refused to fire on a non-military target.

The so-called 'coalition of the willing', led by the United States, believes that theIraqi regime of Saddam Hussein may deploy its defences close to civilian populations asa means of shielding them from attack.

That means the Special Air Service squadron despatched to the Middle East for likelyservice in Iraq, along with RAAF F/A-18 Hornet fighter-bombers, could be called upon tostrike close to areas populated by civilians.

But in an interview with the Sun-Herald, General Cosgrove said: "You don't fire oncivilians. Anyone who deliberately engages civilians would automatically be in breachof international law."

General Cosgrove said Saddam Hussein's forces could be arrayed behind civilian shields,and Australian defence force planners were studying the problem with "extreme attention".

AAP pa/cjh

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST ORDERS

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