Japan on Wednesday issued its strongest public message yet that it would send troops to help rebuild Iraq this year, just days ahead of a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tokyo planned to dispatch the troops before the end of the year, although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi remained more cautious.
"We are firm in our thinking that we will have a dispatch (of troops) this year," Fukuda told a news conference, denying media reports that Tokyo might push back the dispatch until next year because of feared casualties and a domestic outcry.
"While taking security into consideration, we believe that there are areas where we can conduct reconstruction and humanitarian activities," Fukuda added.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, for his part, told reporters Wednesday that a dispatch within the year was possible "if the situation allows." "I will look carefully at the situation and then decide," AFP cited him as saying. (Albawaba.com)
