(adds quotes) BAGHDAD, March 17 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard told Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on a visit to Baghdad on Saturday that Australia would keep its troops in Iraq as long as they were needed, but he declined to talk of dates. Australia has about 1,500 troops in Iraq, of whom about 520 are in the south, training Iraqi troops and providing security. Howard has been one of U.S. President George W. Bush's most loyal allies, and has vowed to keep his troops in Iraq despite growing public opposition to the war at home. "I have ... told the prime minister that Australia will continue its presence in Iraq to assist bringing about a situation where the Iraqi people are reasonably able to provide for their own future security," Howard told a joint news conference with Maliki after their meeting. "We both agree that the future lies in the appropriate combination of improved security and political reconciliation and progress," Howard said. Asked how long Australian troops would stay in Iraq, Howard declined to set any timetable. "There's still work to be done. I don't set specific dates. There is progress but still work needs to be done," he said. Maliki said he agreed that Australian troops were needed for the moment, until Iraqi forces were fully able to take control of security in Iraq. Australia's Labor opposition is cruising to a strong lead in the polls on a promise to bring Australians out of Iraq if they win the elections, due late this year. The latest published poll on Iraq on Feb. 20 said 67 percent wanted forces either brought home immediately, or want an exit date.
