THE Howard Government has left the door open for Australian soldiers to stay in southern Iraq beyond next year and in even greater numbers. The force has expanded quietly from 450 troops to 508 in the past two weeks.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson announced yesterday another 20 would be sent within three weeks to boost the Australian battle group at the US air base at Tallil, in Iraq's Dhi Qar province about 320km southeast of Baghdad. The group moved from Camp Smitty after Japanese engineers left Iraq last month.

Australia will extend its Operation Overwatch responsibilities late next month, taking in Dhi Qar as well as the neighbouring al-Muthanna province.

These are the first two provinces to come under Iraqi security control.

Dr Nelson said Australian forces would be in the war-ravaged country until the Iraqis could look after their own security.

"We will see how this goes over the next year or so," he said. "We are not going to be held hostage to any particular deadlines."

Despite daily bloodshed across the country, Dr Nelson, who visited Baghdad two weeks ago, insisted progress had been made.

Australia sent another 38 troops and four additional Bushmaster infantry mobile vehicles to Tallil last month.

The troops and re part of the British-controlled force operating in Iraq's four southernmost provinces. They work with Romanian soldiers who provide road security.

Dr Nelson ruled out redeploying a special forces task group that is returning home from Afghanistan this month.

He said the task group had brought a degree of security to the southern Oruzgan province. "We have no intention of redeploying them in the immediate future," he said.

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