Iraqi workers to get residency offer in Australia

Canberra, Australia: The government of Australia will offer resettlement to at least 600 Iraqis working for its soldiers and diplomats, the defence minister said on Wednesday.

All the Iraqis, mostly translators and administrative staff, will be resettled under a new visa after nomination by troops and diplomats, said Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.

Fitzgibbon said the Iraqis have played "a very significant role in assisting with strategy and protection, and we feel we have a moral obligation to resettle them in Australia."

He said the Iraqis would still be subject to strict health and security check and that the decision did not mean a relaxation of tough immigration laws for Iraqi asylum seekers.

Australia was an original member of the US-led coalition that invaded Iraq in 2003 and has about 1,500 troops in and around Iraq.