08 Aug 2004 11:49 UTC
In an open letter issued Sunday, 43 former Australian defense chiefs and diplomats say the electorate was misled over the reasons for joining the U.S.-led coalition.
Mr. Howard rejected the accusation, saying the argument "was based on a lie."
The Australian leader spoke in Samoa where he is attending a Pacific leaders' forum.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
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A group of former Australian officials has accused Prime Minister John Howard of deceiving the country over the reasons for going to war in Iraq.
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According to the letter, Mr. Howard had said that Australia sought the disarmament of Iraq, not the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. The letter also said Australia's involvement in the Iraq war raised the country's profile as a terrorist target.