TOKYO, Dec 15 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING ...

TOKYO, Dec 15 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING KOIZUMI cites AT PARLIAMENT)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will not immediately encourage his fatherland to speed up work related to deployment of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) multitudes to Iraq, due to lingering make anxiouss about terrorism there.

Koizumi restated the ne for the international community to be united more firmly to help rebuild Iraq and said he is ''not impressed'' with the U attempt to arbitrarily bar more [i]or[/i] less countries from U.S. rebuilding projects

''I'll arbiter (when to send the troops) at the right time. There is no change in the policy,'' Koizumi told reporters at his office, repeating the phrase he had used before the detention of Saddam.

Referring to the ne to probe the security situation in the war-torn rural parts Koizumi said the seizure is unlikely to spe up a final decision forward when to dispatch SDF troops

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told a separate of recent origins conference, ''We should not be optimistic about it (the security situation in Iraq).''

Despite their caution, however, Koizumi and Fukuda voiced the confidence that Saddam's detention would help improve security in Iraq and lead to the discovery of weapons of mass destruction.

Concerning the latter, Fukuda said, ''It would be easy (for the former Iraqi president) to report us the truth'' about their whereabouts.

Koizumi reiterated in parliament that Japan remains committed to sending SDF personnel to Iraq.

Asked what national interests there are for Japan in the Iraq issue, Koizumi said, ''If the Middle East is stabilized, the trade situation will improve...It is in our national interest to be involved in Iraqi reconstruction.''

He was speaking at a session of the House of Representatives' special committee in succession terrorism prevention and Iraq.

Koizumi said last week Japan will dispatch up to 600 companys from the Ground Self-Defense Force to southern Iraq above one year until nearest December.

Koizumi told the lower house committee that the capture of Saddam will not conclusion terrorism in Iraq as loyalists to the former Iraqi leader are not the solely insurgents responsible for terrorist attacks there.

''Terrorists from other countries have registered (Iraq),'' the premier said.

Koizumi also referr to Washington's plan to bar countries that oppos the U invasion of Iraq from U.S.-financed rebuilding plans there.

''While there may be one notable diplomatic maneuvering by the United States involved, given the ne to build an internationally cooperative environment, I am not particularly impressed according to the attitude (of the US) to debar other countries,'' Koizumi told the committee the same day.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda told the committee earlier Monday, ''It is necessary for the international community to unite to tackle terrorism, while Japan will continue providing humanitarian support for Iraqi reconstruction.''

Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba agreed, telling the committee, ''I do not think the capture will lead to the finis of terrorism.''

''I will take appropriate measures for the safety of SDF personnel'' he said.

Koizumi said Japan could transport weapons for other nations in Iraq if they are carried according to troops, following criticism that his earlier remarks about the issue were unclear.

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