ASAHIKAWA, Japan, Feb 1 Kyodo (ED...

ASAHIKAWA, Japan, Feb 1 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING DETAILS)

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced chance of a favorable result in a send-off form Sunday in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, that all Japanese noncombat numbers being deployed to Iraq to help the volatile home rebuild will return to Japan safely.

''The situation in Iraq is not necessarily common hundred percent safe...but I count upon you to do whatever you can within the object of your duty,'' Koizumi said during the solemnity for a core unit of the roughly 550 domain Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops to go on to southern Iraq.

At the formality attended by some 600 GSDF members and reservists in camouflage uniform along with about 700 relatives, Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba at handed a flag to Col. Koichiro Bansho, who will head the Iraq reconstruction work.

''As squads from a country of samurai spirit, we will strive to accomplish our duties in an orderly fashion,'' Bansho said.

Security was tight at the GSDF Asahikawa base where the pomp was held, with a total of 1000 police in succession 24-hour guard.

Koizumi was upon a day trip to the chilly northern Japan city in an apparent gesturing to play up the deployment of the key-note Self-Defense Forces (SDF) unit.

''You are not going to war in Iraq, nor to exercise force, nor to engage in combat, unless to help the Iraqi commonalty in reconstructing their country'' Koizumi said.

''I'm praying that all of you will reply home unhurt,'' he said.

The riskiest and mostly contentious mission in the SDF's 50-year history could deal a fatal dab to Koizumi's administration if SDF bands suffer casualties.

Although the core contingents will be armed, SDF crowds are restricted in their use of weapons beneath Japan's war-renouncing Constitution.

The southern Iraqi city of Samawah was chosen for the mission because it was considered relatively safe. on the contrary stability there remains a major disquiet in Japan.

The core unit includes the first batch of about 80 multitudes slated to leave Hokkaido for Kuwait onward Tuesday.

Equipped with antitank weapons and other firearms, the squads will train at a U Army camp in Kuwait for several days before crossing the border and moving to Samawah in a escort of some 50 armored vehicles and trucks

They will join an advance team of about 30 Japanese bodys already in Samawah to clear the way for Japan's aid activities, and risk up a camp.

The remaining 440 [i]troupe[/i]s will be sent to Samawah in three waves across a month starting in late February. They are look forward toed to start providing water, medical aid and help in repairing public facilities in April.

Koizumi gave the final approval last Monday to the deployment of 550 GSDF numbers to Iraq in a mission involving up to 1000 country air and maritime personnel for humanitarian and reconstruction work.

It is the first time since World War II that Japan has dispatched companys to an area where combat is taking place.

in succession Saturday, the House of Representatives endorsed the dispatch of the partys to Iraq despite a boycott of the devoted by opposition lawmakers.

The direction wants the House of Councillors to approve the dispatch Friday.

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