The Hindu : Japan vows to continue work

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 01, 2003

International

International

Japan vows to continue work

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE Nov. 30. The Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, has vowed to stay the course of participating in Iraq's `reconstruction' despite the latest killing of two of his country's diplomats in an apparent `terrorist' attack near Tikrit.

The two diplomats were slain while on their way to Tikrit for a conference on `reconstruction' work in northern Iraq.

Amid growing concerns among the Japanese people over Mr. Koizumi's plans to send troops to Iraq on "non-combat duties'', he took note of the latest incident and underlined that Tokyo's "stance remains the same'' as before.

He said in Tokyo, in a televised comment, that Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF or the country's military) as also his Government and the citizens would have to help `reconstruct' Iraq.

While noting that there was the need to "investigate the facts'' about the latest incident concerning the Japanese diplomats, Mr. Koizumi indicated that there was also a need to strengthen the `security' of those already engaged in `reconstruction' work.

The killing of the Japanese diplomats was announced in Tokyo by the Deputy Vice-Foreign Minister, Shinichi Kitajima, at a briefing very early in the morning on Sunday.

Following that, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, was understood to have asked for Washington's help in the investigation of the incident, even as she discussed the issue with the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

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