Ananova:

Australia has strongly backed US and British air attacks on Iraq, saying they will help to block Baghdad's attempts to build weapons of mass destruction.

Although many nations have criticised the air strikes, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says the attacks by its close allies were justified.

He says the Australian government fully understands the need for the action.

Friday night's raids on air defence sites around Baghdad were aimed at damaging Iraq ability to target US and British planes patrolling the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq.

State-run media in Iraq reports that two people were killed in the raids.

A statement issued by Downer's office says the no-fly zones have to be preserved, and the air strikes will help block Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's efforts to build weapons of mass destruction.

It states: "Apart from protecting oppressed minorities, the no-fly zone is part of a continuing effort to get Iraq to abandon its weapons of mass destruction project."