Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Friday he would like Australia to be out of Iraq as soon as possible but still insisted not to set a timetable of troop withdrawal.

Howard's statements came as he is facing more and more domestic pressure for a withdrawal from the Gulf country which is experiencing escalating violence.

A report was released Thursday which said the situation in Iraqis grave and deteriorating and recommended the staged withdrawal of US troops and a handover to Iraqi military and police forces.

The report was produced by a bipartisan panel led by the US Republican former secretary of state James Baker.

In response to the report, Australian Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd earlier Friday demanded a definitive plan from Howard on when and how Australian troops will be withdrawn from Iraq.

Howard said Australia's exit strategy would be to leave when the coalition was satisfied Iraq was able to look after itself.

"A precipitous American withdrawal would create a real bloodbath and total chaos," Howard said in an interview on Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"I would like to be out of Iraq as soon as possible. But I am not going to make myself in any way hostage to a particular date," he said.

"The exit strategy is to go when the coalition is satisfied that the country can reasonably look after itself.

Meanwhile, the Australian Financial Review, one of the leading newspapers in the country, reported Friday that Australia's Defense Department has drawn up plans for a phased withdrawal of troops in case there is a change of coalition policy, citing unnamed government officials.

Australia, a staunch supporter of the US-led war on terror, currently maintains around 1,400 troops in and around Iraq.   

(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2006)