SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Australia says it will maintain its military presence in Iraq until at least the middle of next year.
Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says he has welcomed an Iraqi parliamentary resolution authorizing foreign troops to remain in the Gulf nation until the end of July 2009.
Fitzgibbon said Wednesday it would be up to Iraq to decide if Australian forces remain beyond that deadline.
American troops can stay until the end of 2011 under a separate security agreement.
Australia withdrew its combat troops from Iraq in June but still has a small noncombat presence in the country.
