Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BASRA, Iraq, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Australian troops began to pullout from their base in a southern Iraq province on Sunday, a British military spokesman said.

    "Australian soldiers started pulling out from the Talil base in Nassriyah, some 375 km south of Baghdad," captain Ford told Xinhua.

    He said that U.S. troops are replacing the withdrawing soldiers.

    Australia has 515 soldiers in Nassriyah province whose main task is training and providing support for Iraqi forces.

    Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised during November elections to bring his troops home as polls in his country showed that 80 percent of Australians oppose the war in Iraq.