Japan plans to withdraw ground troops from Iraq in June
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-21 10:27
TOKYO, May 20 -- Japan may pull out its ground troops from Iraq as early as
in June, though its air forces will continue missions in the region, local media
reported Saturday.
Japan started on Saturday negotiations over troops withdrawal with the United
States, Britain and Australia and the pullout from Iraq may start in the middle
of June, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said, citing government sources.
The pullout of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces (GSDF) from Iraq needs 30
to 45 days and the troops will withdraw to Kuwait by the end of July at the
earliest, before eventually returning to Japan, the paper's evening edition
said.
However, Japan's Kuwait-based Air Self-Defense Forces (ASDF) will continue
transportation missions around the region and assist the transfer of U.N.
personnel and supplies in Iraq even after the completion of ground troops
withdrawal.
According to the report, a multinational committee has been formed in Iraq to
deal with the shift of authority to its new national unity government. The
southern Iraqi city Samawah, where some 600 Japanese troops are stationed, is
among the earliest regions to complete the shift, as decided by the committee.
Japan has stationed the ground troops in Samawah for a non-combat
reconstruction mission since early 2004. The Japanese government has repeatedly
said that Japan would have to carefully consider the situation in Iraq before
deciding on a troop pullout.
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