Fed: Anti-war parties back troops, says defence force

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Fed: Anti-war parties back troops, says defence force

CANBERRA, April 24 AAP - The Australian Defence Force today tried to reassure forcesin Iraq that they'd get a warm welcome home, saying the leaders of all Australian anti-warparties have sent them personal messages of support.

Defence Minister Robert Hill, who is visiting the forces in the gulf, said yesterdaythat there was some apprehension about how they would be received at home.

His remarks surprised the ADF in Canberra, where a support-our-troops campaign was organised.

Spokesman Brigadier Mike Hannan said that more than 20,000 messages of support hadbeen received from the public and sent on to the troops in the Gulf.

"All major leaders of political and social groups opposing the war have written personalmessages (of support) to the troops and these have been passed on," Brigadier Hannan said.

Only a handful of the 20,000 had not been sent on, and about half of these were thoughtinappropriate because they were bloodthirsty or racist rather than critical of the troops.

"There has been a clear differentiation made in the minds of most Australians thatpolitical differences over going to war is not the same thing as supporting the troops,"

he said.

"We hope that's been well put forward to the troops in the field."

Brigadier Hannan said he did not know why there was still apprehension.

He speculated that because of their isolation some troops, despite modern communications,were not getting a rounded view of Australian attitudes.

"The view from the ADF is that we enjoy overwhelming public support, which we guardzealously," he said.

AAP dw/cjh/br

KEYWORD: IRAQ ADF SUPPORT