Fed: Fighters bombed tanks outside Tikrit - Hill

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Fed: Fighters bombed tanks outside Tikrit - Hill

CANBERRA, April 14 AAP - Australian jet fighters bombed tanks outside Tikrit overnight,the last major city being taken by coalition forces, the government said today.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said fighters bombed tanks while special forces continuedground operations.

Special forces, believed to be on the main highway into Baghdad, were interceptingpeople seeking to flee Baghdad, Senator Hill said.

Coalition forces were moving into the mopping up phase, he said.

Senator Hill said Australian forces were not too far off returning home.

"We're sort of moving into the mopping up phase," he told the John Laws radio program.

The reconstruction phase would need a significant military force to maintain stability,with Australia not making a large contribution of personnel.

"We've said we would look at support in niche areas where we have particular expertisethat might be in demand," Senator Hill said.

Baghdad's international airport was now flooded with would-be donors of humanitarianaid, Senator Hill said.

AAP lm/sb/gl/jlw

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST HILL