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Howard rejects criticisms over Brigitte security lapse
Prime Minister John Howard has described the security relationship between Australia and France as very good.
| Not "intimate," but still very good... |
Howard was commenting on revelations that suspected French terrorist Willie Brigitte had been in Australia for four months before the Australian Government was alerted by French authorities to his presence. The Opposition has called for an inquiry into national security after it was revealed this week that France had issued suspected terrorist Willie Brigitte with a new passport while he was living in Australia in July, yet had not alerted the Australian Government about Mr Brigitte's Al Qaeda links until September.
| A small oversight on their part? |
Previously the Australian Government has said French authorities passed on information leading to the suspected terrorists' deportation as soon as it became available to them. The Opposition says an inquiry is needed to find out how such a serious breakdown of communication could occur.
| Another tiresome "what did they know and when did they know it" investigation... |
Speaking on his arrival in London at the start of a six-day visit Mr Howard absolved Australian security agencies of any responsibility for the delay. "If there was a communciation breakdown it was between certain agencies in France, not in Australia," he said. Mr Howard described the security relationship between Australia and France as very good, though not as intimate as the relationships we have with Britain and the US.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-11-08 |
