Japan's defense chief heads for Iraq to inspect troops

Japanese Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono on Saturday left Tokyo for Iraq to visit Japanese troops deployed in the country for reconstruction work.

"I'd like to encourage Self-Defense Forces (SDF) members who are working hard on humanitarian reconstruction aid in severe circumstances," Ono said at Narita airport, according to Kyodo News.

The defense chief also said he will inspect the local security there.

More than 500 Japanese troops are stationed in the southern city of Samawah on assignment of reconstruction assistance.

The Japanese government is actively seeking an one-year extension of the mission due on December 14, but witnessing vehement resistance from the opposition parties and the public.

The troops have hardly carried out rebuilding operations given the deteriorating local security situations. Shell attacks on the SDF's base have fueled concerns that the area is no longer a non-combat zone which is a legal basis for the deployment.

In addition, six Japanese were kidnapped in Iraq by militants who demanded the troops withdrawal. One has been killed and the rest have been released unharmed.

Source: Xinhua