Japan set to send troops to Iraq



Japan's lower house of parliament has given the go-ahead for troops to be sent to help with the reconstruction of post-war Iraq.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi could send about 1,000 non-combatant troops to Iraq by October if the bill becomes law, as expected, later this month.

It would be the largest foreign deployment for Japan's armed forces since World War II, which has angered some critics.
They say the plan could allow Japanese troops to get drawn into the combat that has plagued US-led troops since the end of major hostilities at the start of May.

This would violate the country's pacifist constitution, which forbids the use of force to settle international conflicts except in self-defence.

Mr Koizumi and his cabinet ministers have insisted the troops will only be sent to areas "free of military conflict" and would be involved in a non-combat role, mainly transporting supplies and ammunition.

But critics argue that such areas are ill-defined, given the level of attacks in Iraq.