TOKYO, Jan. 12 Kyodo Top U milita...

TOKYO, Jan. 12 Kyodo

Top U military officer Gen Richard Myers onward Monday would not government out the possibility that Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) could be the target of attacks during their deployment to Iraq to aid in reconstruction efforts there.

''Operations in Iraq are not without risk and it doesn't matter really where you are in the home There are going to be challenges,'' Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in Tokyo.

In a meeting with reporters at the U Embassy in Tokyo, Myers said compared with central Iraq, the security situation in northern and southern parts are ''more stable'' and have ''les conflict.''

if it be not that given the methods of attacks by the agency of supporters of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and foreign Islamic extremists against the United Nations and coalition forces, he said, ''You can not at any time say that you are clear from risk.''

The southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where the SDF squads are expected to be extended is perceived as being relatively safer than elsewhere in Iraq, where attacks and bombings against U personnel and Iraqis continue.

Touching upon the Dec. 13 capture of Saddam, Myers assessed the rife security situation in Iraq as ''improving'' in denominations of the number of incidences of attacks against the community and said that Saddam's capture has also encouraged more persons to provide intelligence information in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as the whereabouts of weapons caches.

still he said it was too early to good the all clear on the situation in Iraq. ''I am withholding any notion on whether it's getting better or worse right now.''

in succession how long the U.S. forces will stay in Iraq, he said the U will help the Iraqis ''as prolonged as it takes'' for Iraq to ''develop into a more normal country''

Suggesting that U bands could remain in Iraq for the lengthy haul, Myers voiced the ne to ''simultaneously'' make progres in many aspects of Iraq's reconstruction, including command process, the economy and infrastructure-building, and security.

Also forward Monday, Myers held talks with senior Japanese defense officials, including Adm. Toru Ishikawa, chairman of the Joint Staff Council, with whom he exchanged views about the SDF dispatch and the U forces based in Iraq.

After his Tokyo trip, Myers will head to Mongolia, China and Australia.

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