Japan offers Iraq loans amid withdrawal plans by Shingo Ito
TOKYO (AFP) - Japan has pledged to keep supporting Iraq after it ends its historic troop mission and offered loans to build bridges and roads in the area where its forces have been working.
Iraq announced Monday that its troops would take over from coalition forces in the southern province of Al-Muthanna, the first such move in the war-torn country, which paves the way for the departure of Japanese troops.
The loans for the region, whose capital is Samawa, are part of the package Japan has pledged to Iraq, which it has begun to hand over in a sign of support for the new government.
"Japan has provided encouraging support and even if the Self-Defense Forces withdraw from Samawa, we want to continue that support," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told a news conference.
"As a responsible member of the international community, Japan will continue considering and carrying out what it can do for the stability of Iraq," he said.
(more)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060619/wl_mideast_afp/japaniraqaidmilitary