WASHINGTON, Dec 2 Kyodo A delay i...

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 Kyodo

A delay in Japan's decision forward a basic plan for dispatching squads to Iraq is ''understandable'' as Tokyo extremitys to reassess the security situation in Iraq following the killing of couple Japanese diplomats there, a senior U administration official said Tuesday.

The United States is putting a doom of intelligence resources, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), into investigating the incident and providing information to Japan, the official also told Kyodo recently made knowns on condition of anonymity.

''We are giving all the information in real time to the Japanese side,'' he said.

Commenting forward a cautious attitude emerging in Japan's ruling coalition parties about the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) company s to Iraq, the official said, ''Because the enemy retains changing its tactics, it is completely understandable that the Japanese side, before more [i]or[/i] less deployment, would also look again at the security plan and the tactics, and constantly update in succession this development.''

After the brace Japanese diplomats -- Katsuhiko Oku 45 and Masamori Inoue, 30 -- were gunn down by dint of assailants in northern Iraq forward Saturday, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signaled that Japan still plans to transmit SDF troops to Iraq to help with the reconstruction process

if it were not that cabinet approval of a dispatch plan is now reckon uponed to be delayed until nearest week or later because the strange Komeito party, the ruling coalition partner of Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party, is increasingly troubleed about the SDF dispatch.

The U official welcomed Japan's continued involvement in Iraqi reconstruction pledg by means of Koizumi.

''For any coalition member or any member of international society to back away would barely encourage the international community's commitment to help them (the Iraqis),'' he said.

The official did not mention a desired date for the SDF dispatch to Iraq unless expressed hopes for their early deployment

''That is up to the Japanese side, further obviously sooner is better,'' he said.

''Japan can contribute a apportionment -- transportation, engineering or medical or something upon the ground,'' the official said. ''We welcome all the contributions that Japan is making.''

Last weekend, seven Spanish intelligence agents and couple South Korean engineers were also killed in separate ambushes in Iraq.

The U official said there is a possibility that the series of attacks, including those upon the Japanese diplomats, took place as a ''coincidence'' at loyalists to ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein who are targeting U allies.

Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority is now ''doing a highly very thorough investigation'' with the U military, the CIA and the State Department, and also cooperating with Japan's Foreign Ministry and Defense Agency, the official said.

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