The Hindu : Japan bids adieu to slain diplomats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 07, 2003

International

International

Japan bids adieu to slain diplomats

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE DEC. 6. The Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, today hinted at the possibility of sending troops to Iraq for its `reconstruction' purposes, even as he led the nation in paying homage to the two slain diplomats of his country at a funeral in Tokyo. The two men — Katsuhiko Oku and Masamori Inoue — were killed in an apparent attack in Iraq a few days ago while they were on their way to Tikrit to participate in a conference on Iraqi `reconstruction.'

Both the Japanese diplomats were promoted posthumously, with Oku being designated `ambassador' and Inoue a `first secretary'. They were also honoured with the award of "The Order of the Rising Sun."

Their Iraqi driver, who too was killed in the same attack, was also similarly honoured. Mr. Koizumi hailed the slain diplomats' `passion' for the `reconstruction' of Iraq.

Mr. Koizumi said Japan would sustain its efforts, in association with the larger "international community," at accomplishing the "reconstruction of Iraq."

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