The Associated Press
Thursday, December 21, 2006; 6:16 PM

CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia does not plan to contribute to a potential increase in troop numbers in Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard said Friday.

"I don't have any plans at present to increase Australia's troop commitment, nor do I have any plans to reduce it," Howard told the Nine Network television.

Australia sent 2,000 troops to back American and British forces in the 2003 Iraq invasion. It now has about 600 troops inside Iraq, 450 of whom are providing support for Iraqi security forces in two southern provinces. The remainder are guarding Australian diplomats in Baghdad, training Iraqi troops or disarming explosives.

American officials are considering broad changes to Iraq policy, including a possible short-term surge in U.S. troop numbers.

Howard said he would be notified if President Bush decided to send more troops, but that would not mean Australia would follow.

While the opposition Labor Party has pledged to withdraw most Australian troops from Iraq if it wins elections due late next year, Howard said his center-right coalition government cannot plan that far ahead.

"What the situation is at the next election will depend on conditions in Iraq and the one thing we won't do is be part of any withdrawal which hands victory to the terrorists," he said.

Howard said Australia relies on the United States and their 55-year-old bilateral security alliance must continue.

"People are critical of America and their President Bush, but in the end, our futures are linked and the strength and power of America is important to us," he said.