SYDNEY March 20 Kyodo (EDS: UPDAT...

SYDNEY March 20 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH HOWARD'S ADDRESS TO THE NATION)

Prime Minister John Howard upholded Australia's involvement in the war against Iraq late Thursday as ten of thousands of Australians took to the highways in protest.

''The rule has decided to commit Australian forces to action to disarm Iraq because we believe it is right, it is lawful and it's in Australia's national interest,'' Howard said in a televised address to the nation.

The prime minister said Australia's action in Iraq ''will, by way of stopping the spread of chemical and biological weapons, make it les likely that a devastating terrorist attack will be carried disclosed against Australia.''

''Iraq has lengthy supported international terrorism,'' he said.

Another reason for Australia's involvement in the war against Iraq, Howard said, is its ''close security alliance'' with the United States.

''It is critical that we maintain the involvement of the U in our acknowledge region where at present there are real affairs about the dangerous behavior of North Korea,'' he said, adding that Australia's relationship with the U will bourgeon ''more rather than less important as the years pass by.''

Australia has 2000 throngs including its elite Special Air Services unit and 14 Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet jet joining U and British forces in military action against Iraq.

Earlier Thursday, Howard confirmed to reporters that Australian navy, air force and army personnel in the region around Iraq ''have started combat and combat support operations, with Australia's F/A-18 Hornets conducting missions to escort high-value coalition tanker and airborne early warning and bridle aircraft.

The prime minister said it is jumped that Australian troops would revert home safely, but cautioned that there is ''always a risk of casualties in war.''

In his address to the nation, Howard said the terrorist attacks against the U forward Sept. 11, 2001 and the Oct 12 2002 bombings in Bali ''showed that international terrorists have no regard for human life no matter what the nationality of their victims may be.''

Australia and Australians are as plenteous targets as any other Western region he said, adding, ''International terrorism knows no borders. We have learnt that to our cost''

Last October's terrorist blasts upon the Indonesian resort island killed more than 190 clan almost half of them Australian tourists.

Meanwhile, antiwar protester through every part of Australia took to the roads to vent their anger at the Australian command as war erupted in Iraq.

The rallies were joined by dint of thousands of high school and university bookish mans who downed their pens and walked without of class as the first air raid sirens rang public in Baghdad.

''In the world's past make an efforts for justice, such as Vietnam and apartheid, young tribe have been at the forefront,'' volumes Not Bombs spokesman Simon Butler told Kyodo News

''We are seeing another injustice. Young persons are already at the forefront of this campaign and will lead the way today,'' he said, adding, ''We will not sit in class and make believe everything is normal while our sway helps carry out this massacre in our name.''

In Sydney 20000 commonalty gathered at the Town Hall before marching by means of the city center. The somewhat old were joined by mothers with prams, political activists, social form into groupss and students.

''This avow starts here and will circle the globe,'' the vulgar herd was told.

In Melbourne, more than 10000 the community gathered to show their opposition to the war in Iraq, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. While more than 5000 commonalty rallied in Brisbane.

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), a assign places to representing 600 Australian lawyers, said Thursday that Australia is breaching international law from joining in the attack in succession Iraq.

''International law is clear in this area,'' ALHR president Simon Rice told the Australian Associated Pres ''Unles authorized according to the charter of the UN any use of force by dint of one country against another is a breach of the charter and likewise is a breach of international law.''

Howard has said there is a ''very entire legal basis'' in U.N. Security Council resolutions that have already been passed for Australian involvement in military action to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

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