Japan approves concrete plan on troops dispatch to Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 18, 2003

Japan approves concrete plan on troops dispatch to Iraq

Japanese Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba announced Thursday an implementation plan for Self-Defense Forces (SDF)'s mission in Iraq.

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Japanese Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba announced Thursday an implementation plan for Self-Defense Forces (SDF)'s mission in Iraq.

The announcement was made after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi gave green light to the detailed plan earlier in the day. The Japanese government sanctioned a basic plan last Tuesday.

The implementation plan does not say when the dispatch will be realized, but rules the mission will end by Dec. 14, 2004.

Ishiba is expected to give order for readiness Friday.

Under the detailed guideline, the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) personnel will carry out operations in Samawah, southeastern Iraq, mainly on water supply, medical services, renovation of schools, hospitals and other public facilities.

As for the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF), it will transport relief goods on transport planes, multipurpose aircraft and government jets to airports in locations such as Baghdad, Basra and Mosul.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force will use the port at Umm Qasr, and its vessels will help transport GSDF personnel as well as material to be used by them, according to the document.

Earlier Japanese media reports said an advance team of the ASDF would set out next Thursday and the main ground force would depart in February.

A law passed in July authorized the SDF to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqis. But the unstable security situation delayed an early dispatch. Two Japanese diplomats have been shot dead in northern Iraq. Opposition parties maintain the mission would incur SDF casualties and terrorist attacks on other Japanese targets.

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