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Japanese Troop Withdrawal from Iraq Delayed

Earlier this week, top Japanese officials delayed an earlier decision on when to withdraw troops from southern Iraq thus pending the transfer of security in the region to Iraqi authorities. Tokyo announced 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`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 of Japanese non-combat troops from Iraq would have to wait for the Iraqis to take over security responsibilities in the area in question from the British.

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. Japan sent troops to Samawah in southern Iraq in early 2004 on a strictly non-combat, humanitarian mission, and the British and Australian soldiers that are providing security in the area are soon expected to pull out and hand over control to their Iraqi counterparts.