Australian PM to visit US and Britain for talks on aftermath of war

SYDNEY (AFP) Apr 20, 2003
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Sunday he will hold talks on the aftermath of the Iraq war with US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair early next month.

Accompanied by his wife Janette, Howard will visit Bush at the president's ranch near Crawford in Texas on May 2 and 3.

Then he will head to New York for a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan before flying to London for talks with Blair and other members of the British government.

Howard said that as well as Iraq he would also discuss security and economic issues of international bilateral concern with Blair.

A spokesman for Howard said the prime minister had talked overnight with Blair about the reconstruction of Iraq.

The two also discussed the issue of Zimbabwe, and Australia's support for the continued suspension of the African nation from the Commonwealth.

SPACE.WIRE