Japan's cabinet decided Thursday to extend the Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) humanitarian assistance operation in Iraq by one year until Dec. 14, 2005.

More than 500 SDF's ground troops are stationed in Iraq's southern city of Samawah, backed up by air and maritime forces in Kuwait. The current one-year mission will expire on Tuesday.

Under a revised dispatch plan, the Japanese government will watch closely the reconstruction progress and security situation and make appropriate response, showing flexibility on the pullout timetable. The clause apparently was added to appease domestic concerns that the deteriorating security situation in Iraq will inflict SDF casualties.

The cap of 600 ground troops and eight aircraft in the mission has been left unchanged.

Japan's Defense Agency Director Yoshinori Ono paid a five-hour visit to the SDF's camp on Sunday and reported to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday, saying the situation was stable enough for a prolonged stay.

Source: Xinhua