Troops head to Solomons amid dolphin trade furore

Troops head to Solomons amid dolphin trade furore
By Craig Skehan, Herald Correspondent in Honiara and agencies
July 22 2003

The first contingent of the biggest Australian force deployed in the Pacific since World War II left yesterday for a dangerous and uncertain mission in the Solomon Islands.
Anxious families farewelled about 600 troops and military support personnel aboard HMAS Manoora as it sailed from Townsville.

It is expected to arrive in the Solomons in time to join the rest of the 2000-strong Australian-led intervention force, members of which will be flown from Townsville on Thursday.

Some Australian soldiers forming part of an advance party arrived yesterday in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, aboard an RAAF Hercules aircraft.

The Federal Cabinet's national security committee will meet today to give the final green light to the mission to restore law and order in the Solomons after five years of ethnic conflict and political upheaval.


more....

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/21/1058639732127.html

Australians are learning from Bush :bounce: