Sydney: Australia on March 18 expelled all diplomatic staff of the Iraqi Embassy in Sydney following John Howard government's decision to participate in the imminent coalition military action against Iraq.

The Iraqi officials and staff have been given five days time to leave the country.

"This course of action is clearly a logical and prudent step in a situation where Australia is engaged in military action against Iraq. The expulsion of staff from the Iraqi Embassy will contribute to the security of Australia and Australian forces fighting in Iraq," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reports.

Downer reiterated that this decision is consistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and in particular, Article 9 of that Convention.

The Convention requires that reasonable period be given for staff of the Embassy to depart the country following such a decision.

The provision of five days is consistent with this requirement, bearing in mind that there are five Iraqi staff at the Embassy in Canberra, and their dependants, who will need a reasonable amount of time to pack their belongings and close down the Embassy, he added.

Downer said the closure of the Iraqi Embassy does not constitute a break in diplomatic relations with Iraq as a State.

"Following the conclusion of hostilities, Australia and a new government in Iraq should be able to agree quickly on a resumption of diplomatic representation in Canberra," he said.

PTI