Japan Delays Decision On Iraq Withdrawal
Nidhi Sharma - All Headline News Staff Writer Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - On Monday, top Japanese officials delayed a decision on when to withdraw troops from southern Iraq thus pending the transfer of security in the region to Iraqi authorities. Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and Defense chief Fukushiro Nukaga have reached a conclusion that a decision on the timing of a withdrawal would have to wait for Iraq to take over security responsibilities in the area from the British. Tokyo will soon announce a withdrawal of its 600 troops in Samawah but Defense Chief Fukushiro Nukaga said, "We have to wait and see the outcome of an Iraqi government security meeting." Japan sent troops to Samawah in southern Iraq in early 2004 on a strictly non-combat, humanitarian mission. The British and Australian soldiers that are providing security in the area are soon expected to pull out. The Associated Press says that Japan's post-World War II constitution puts a limit on the military's actions overseas. The British withdrawal from Samawah is likely to prompt a similar move by the Japanese. Kyodo News agency reported that Britain could announce a withdrawal as early as Tuesday. Following Britain, Japan could announce the withdrawal as early as Wednesday. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is also scheduled to hold a summit with President Bush in Washington the last week of June.
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