US President George W. Bush has formally asked Australia to join US and British forces in a "coalition of the willing" to attack Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard announced.
Mr Howard, who is one of President Bush's staunchest supporters, said the Australian government would meet early tomorrow to consider the request.
Australia already has 2,000 military personnel in the Middle East preparing for war but the government has not yet formally announced if it would take part in strikes aimed at disarming Saddam Hussein.
"When Cabinet has taken a decision that decision will be immediately communicated to the United States and our armed forces," Mr Howard said in a radio interview.