Indecision about Japan's Troop Withdrawal from Iraq

Japan will announce the withdrawal of its non-combat troops stationed in Muthanna province for a humanitarian mission, this month, informs Japanese newspaper "Asashi Shimbun" today, quoted by news agency Xinhua. The withdrawal process will begin as soon as the Iraqi security forces are able to take over security operations in the above mentioned province.


Quoting governmental sources, the newspaper added that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi would announce the start of the withdrawal procedure before June 29th, when he conducts an official visit to Washington. The first stage of the withdrawal consists in the retreat of the 500 soldiers of the Ground Self-Defense Forces from the town of Samawah in Muthanna, to Kuwait, within the time span of a month before completing the second stage of the withdrawal operations by being shipped home.

Yet, there are Japanese officials, like Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who declared on Friday that the withdrawal of Japanese forces could take place earlier than expected: "In think that the situation is now being arranged to be able to pull out from Iraq earlier".

Another Japanese newspaper, the "Yomiuri Shimbun" claims the pull out could be announced by the Japanese Prime Minister this Wednesday, since it is known that British Prime Minister Tony Blair is going to declare soon that the Iraqi government's security and administrative takeover in Muthanna province will begin on Tuesday.

In spite of the massive troop withdrawal operations, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces stationed in Kuwait will continue to provide transportation in the respective Iraqi region and assistance regarding the transfer of UN personnel and supplies in Iraq.