Fed: Aust forces could come home together, incl SAS: Cosgrove

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Fed: Aust forces could come home together, incl SAS: Cosgrove

CANBERRA, April 14 AAP - Australian military forces in the Gulf could be withdrawnin a large group, possibly against US requests for the SAS to stay on in Iraq, defenceforce chief Peter Cosgrove said today.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said yesterday while the roles of the Australian navyand air force were winding down with the crumbling of Iraq's military, SAS operationswould continue for some time.

But General Cosgrove said while the military was looking closely at the developingsecurity situation in Iraq, he would prefer the forces all came home together.

"For my part I would like to see them come home rapidly, and if they could come homein a largish group, I think that would be good," he told reporters.

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KEYWORD: IRAQ COSGROVE