Rumsfeld resignation "gesture politics" says Howard

The resignation of US Defence Secretary Rumsfeld was a gesture, but not a fundamental change in direction on Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard said today

"As a result of the vote in the congressional election, it was obvious that the president decided that a gesture acknowledging the unease that some people feel about the way the operation is going in Iraq that he had to do that, and I would see Rumsfeld's departure very much in that context," Mr Howard told reporters.

"I think we have to take a little bit of a reality check. Clearly the president has reacted to the vote - obviously he has, and that is sensible - but his reaction does not amount to a fundamental change in direction."

Mr Howard meets Mr Bush nex week at the APEC leaders forum in Hanoi

"I will be telling him that Australia's view is that it would be against everybody's interests, except the terrorists', for the coalition to leave in circumstances of defeat," he said.

"I am sure it is his view and I am sure it is Mr Blair's view."

"There is a measure of gesture politics in what the president has done. I understand that, and a tough bloke like Rumsfeld will understand it as well," Mr Howard said.

"My reading of the situation is that ... although they are clearly looking for ways in which their tactics may change, their strategy is not going to change.

"They are not going to suddenly pull out of Iraq."