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Iraq

Govt may pull GSDF out of Iraq in '06 1st half

The government has started studying a plan to pull out Ground Self-Defense Force troops, which are on a humanitarian reconstruction mission in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, in the first half of next year, sources said Wednesday.

A new Iraqi government is expected to be formed by the end of the year following the election of National Assembly members, provided the new Iraqi constitution is approved in referendum in October. Also, Australian and British troops in charge of security in Samawah plan to withdraw from the city in May. In light of these movements, the government started seriously discussing the Samawah pullout, sources said.

The government intends to extend the GSDF mission in Samawah, which will expire on Dec. 14, for about one year under a special law for the nation's contribution in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq, according to the sources. But if stability in Iraq is not restored throughout the country and coalition troops need to extend their presence in Iraq, there is a possibility that the GSDF withdrawal would be delayed.

Japan, Australia, Britain and the United States will hold a meeting of foreign affairs and defense experts in London from Thursday until Monday to discuss the future activities of the GSDF, Australian and British troops stationed in Samawah.

There are about 600 GSDF personnel stationed in Samawah reconstructing public facilities and providing medical support. About 450 Australian soldiers also are stationed in Samawah. British troops, which are in charge of security for all of southern Iraq, have about 600 soldiers in Muthanna Province, which includes Samawah.

Australia has already informed Japan of its plan to withdraw its troops from Iraq in May. Britain also is considering a gradual pullout in 2006 or later of its troops from areas in Iraq that are fairly secure.

Some within the government have said it would be difficult for the GSDF to maintain safety in the area if Australian and British troops withdrew. But other government officials have said it would be necessary to shift the focus of Japanese activities in Iraq from using GSDF troops to other forms of support, such as official development assistance, considering the rehabilitation efforts in Samawah are nearly complete.

In December 2003, the government endorsed in a Cabinet meeting the basic plan to dispatch GSDF troops to Iraq under the special law. The mission was extended for another year in December 2004.

The GSDF mission is slated to expire on Dec. 14, but the Iraqi government has asked Japan to stay in Iraq through 2006 and perhaps later. The Japanese government is certain that the multinational force will be in Iraq beyond 2006 and believe it would look bad if the GSDF left early.