Australia will send 1,550 troops including SAS troops to join the US-led coalition against terrorism by mid-November, Prime Minister John Howard said on Wednesday.
Announcing a much larger commitment of troops than originally anticipated, Howard said some could leave within a week or two, but the exact departure date would be confirmed soon.
"There is nothing token about this contribution, this is a very significant, important contribution being made by Australia and it should be seen as much by the Australian people," he told reporters in Melbourne.
His statement followed a call from US President George W. Bush overnight.
Australian originally committed around 1,000 military personnel, including elite Special Air Service (SAS), to the campaign when the deployment was announced by Howard on October 4.
Howard admitted there was a risk of Australian casualties.
"Whenever you go into battle there is always the risk of casualties," he told reporters in Melbourne. "I can't pretend there won't be casualties."
"In those circumstances the possibility of deaths, the possibility of casualties is quite high."
( ChinA Daily 10/17/2001)
