(Drip, drip, drip...)
Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:06 PM ET
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is considering withdrawing its non-combat ground troops from Iraq in two phases between April and June, and may announce the plan next month, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said on Saturday. Earlier reports had said Japan would begin withdrawing the troops -- who are on a reconstruction mission in southern Iraq -- from March and the pullout would end in May.
The troop dispatch is Japan's riskiest military mission since World War Two and has won praise from close ally Washington, but is opposed by most Japanese voters. The newspaper said in the report not sourced to anybody that the government may call a special cabinet meeting in March to formally decide on the withdrawal.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi would then announce the decision, it said, adding that the government was considering withdrawing the troops in two phases between April and June. Japanese air force units will remain in the region, the newspaper said.
The newspaper said that Japanese foreign ministry and defense ministry officials had begun talks in London on Friday with their counterparts from the United States, Britain and Australia to pave the way for the withdrawal.
(more at link below)
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