Australia on Monday withdrew 110 military from Iraq. Thus Canberra has begun the first stage of the reduction of the numerical strength of its national military contingent there, Itar-Tass quoted the Australian Defense Ministry as reporting. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had earlier promised to pull out from Iraq 500 Australian servicemen before late June this year. After that one Australian combat unit will remain there. At present the Australian military contingent in Iraq is 1,100-strong.
