LABOR'S foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said today he was mystified about the basis of claims by US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage that Labor was divided on its Iraq troops policy.

Mr Armitage held a press conference with Australian reporters in Washington yesterday in which he claimed federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham had divided the ALP with his push to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq.

Mr Rudd said the question of divisions in Labor should be put to Mr Armitage, rather than him.

"As far as our position here in Australia is concerned, this matter has the support of the shadow cabinet, this was canvassed extensively at the time," he said.

"I'm a member of the shadow cabinet, we support this position."

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