Australian Defense Force Chief General Peter Cosgrove said Friday that Australia's F/A-18 fighter jets have been involved in more bombing raids over Iraq in the past days.

According to Cosgrove, some F/A-18s were involved in strikes in the past 24 hours to clear the way for ground troops to invade Baghdad, while others were also involved in escort duties, protecting air-to-air refuellers and early warning aircraft.

He said the Hornets would play a major role in the battle on Baghdad. "Our F/A-18s have remained active in the skies close to Baghdad, preparing the way for what we all anticipate some time soon, which is the next big coalition push against the Republican Guard," he said.

He added the Australian navy will finish clearing the water way to Umm Qasr later Friday.

Canberra stressed the urgency to open the Iraq's only deep water port in order to deliver humanitarian aid. The Australian Associated Press reported that a British ship carrying 231 tons of food, medicine, blankets and fresh water was waiting to enter the port.

In South Korea, the parliament postponed again the vote on a bill authorizing the government to send non-combating troops to support the US-led military campaign against Iraq.

According to national news agency Yonhap News, National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong on Friday decided to convene a two-day "committee of the whole" meeting beginning Friday to discuss the troop dispatch motion.

The speaker made such decision at the request of 71 legislators of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and Grand National Party (GNP), who asked for more thorough debate for the South Korean troop dispatch.

The South Korean government last Friday announced it was to dispatch some 600 engineering and some 100 medical treatment troops to support the United States in the war.

The stance aroused amounting protest in civilian groups, younger generation as well as the lawmakers.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi suggested Friday that Japan might consider sending Self-Defense Forces (SDF)personnel to help with rehabilitation work in postwar Iraq if a U.N. resolution calls on the country to do so.

According to Kyodo News, Koizumi added that quick nonmilitary aid should be given priority for the time being.

Koizumi also said that he will maintain his grip on the cabinet and continue with reform-oriented policies in the coming year in order to address urgent tasks such as economic revival.

On the possibility of sending the SDF to war-affected areas in and near Iraq after the conflict ends, Koizumi said, "If we must do something new following a U.N. resolution, we will need a new law."

Dispatch of the SDF to foreign countries has been a sensitive topic in light of Japan's Constitution, which renounces war, Kyodo said, adding that current legislation will not allow the government to send the SDF to a postwar Iraq.

But Koizumi said that for the time being quick humanitarian assistance from Japan to war-affected people should be given priority.

"At this time, we will think of what can be done under current legislation, instead of what cannot be done without the making of a new law," Koizumi was quoted.

Some senior lawmakers including those in Koizumi's ruling camp are urging the government to make a new law so that the SDF can help in possible international rehabilitation work in a postwar Iraq.

Koizumi said he would consult the ruling coalition parties about such legislation if necessary in the future.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2003)