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Koizumi to announce Tuesday plan to pull Japan's troops from Iraq Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi intends to announce a plan Tuesday to withdraw Japanese troops from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, a Japanese government source said Monday. The move would be in response to an announcement Monday by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that Iraqi forces will take over the maintenance of security from coalition forces next month in Muthana Province, whose capital is Samawah. Koizumi is to indicate Japan's plan to pull out the Ground Self-Defense Force troops when he meets leaders of the governing and opposition parties Tuesday morning, and then give a press conference, the source said. At a press conference earlier Monday, the Japanese leader did not give a specific timeline on the GSDF withdrawal but said Japan will continue to provide reconstruction and humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people even after the troops are pulled out. ''When the time comes, I will decide when will be the appropriate timing to have the SDF troops return home safely after getting the understanding of other countries and the Iraqi government,'' he said. Japan has been considering pulling its troops from the war-ravaged country in step with the withdrawal of the British and Australian forces as the approximately 600 GSDF personnel in Samawah are protected by these forces. The GSDF troops are engaged in medical, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance activities as part of the U.S.-led multinational force. Earlier Monday, three Japanese Cabinet ministers met to discuss the planned withdrawal of Japanese troops from Samawah and confirmed that they would take action after considering security arrangements in the region. Commenting on the pullout, one of the three ministers, Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga, told reporters after the meeting, ''We will consider it after Iraqi Cabinet ministers on security issues make a decision.'' The meeting was also attended by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Aso. Britain, whose forces are now providing security in the area, has reportedly indicated to its allies that it would announce transferring its security authority to the Iraqis this week. ---------------------------------------------------
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