Australian PM leaves for Sydney

After a two-day visit to the city, Australian Prime Minister John Howard left for Sidney by the Royal Australian Airforce special flight on Wednesday night.

Mr Howard left by the special flight at 2130 hrs and he was seen off at the Airport by Tamil Nadu senior Ministers O Panneerselvam and D Jayakumar.

He arrived here on Tuesday, visited the Indian Institute of Technology Madras on Wednesday morning, where a Memorandum of Understanding and a tripartite agreement was signed by Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Queensland University of Technology in his presence.

He addressed a luncheon meeting with top business executives, Trade and Chamber authorities and visited the MRF pace foundation, where legendry Aussie pacer Dennis Lillee imparts fast bowling tips to youngsters.

Howard visited Raj Bhavan, where he met Governor S S Barnala and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.