Japan Iraq withdrawal may be delayed: minister

[ECH1969]

Japan may delay the withdrawal of its troops from southern Iraq because of the unstable situation in that country, perhaps until as late as autumn, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said on Sunday.

Tokyo has long said its withdrawal would have to be coordinated with the British and Australian governments, whose troops have been providing security for Japanese personnel since their activities are limited by Japan's pacifist constitution.

Aso repeated this on Sunday, adding that weeks of deadlock in Iraq over a national unity government and formation of a cabinet have made the overall Iraqi situation unclear.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-04-02T035738Z_01_T205854_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-JAPAN.xml&archived=False

[sonicx]

1. Interesting how Bush's lackeys always push back their country's pullout.

[saigon68]

2. Guess they didn't like the Rose-Petals