PM (Howard) told - be a statesman not a sidekick

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PRIME Minister John Howard must be a statesman not a sidekick when he discussed Iraq with US President George W Bush today, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said.

Mr Howard could not offer leadership on climate change at this week's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam because Australia had not signed the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Beazley said.

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Mr Beazley said Mr Howard should encourage Mr Bush to "reposition" the Australian and US forces in Iraq when he met him for lunch today.

"John Howard's rhetoric is urging George Bush onto further action not sensible repositioning," Mr Beazley said.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20773485-1702,00.html