One of Ours

AUSTRALIA did not begin serious talks with the United States about military action in Iraq until mid-2002, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

He said the Bush administration had been less concerned about military intervention in Iraq than the previous Clinton administration.

In 1998, then US secretary of state Madeleine Albright wanted to take military action to overthrow Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Mr Downer said.

"That was her view in 1998," he told Channel 10.

But Mr Downer said the focus shifted once George W. Bush took over as US president.

"In 2001, I don't recall there being too much focus in our conversations with the Americans about Iraq," he said...