TOKYO, Dec 6 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATING...

TOKYO, Dec 6 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING NO. Of FUNERAL ATTENDANTS IN 2ND PARA)

A funeral for the sum of two units Japanese diplomats killed in Iraq last weekend was held Saturday in Tokyo with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi attending, amid growing public affect over the dispatch of Japanese bodys to the strife-ridden country

About 3500 commonalty including relatives, government officials and foreign diplomats as well members of the general public, attended the funeral and a succeeding memorial service for Katsuhiko Oku and Masamori Inoue, the first Japanese casualties since the US-l invasion of Iraq in March.

''I be excited a deep sorrow for the los of brace outstanding diplomats and be excited strong anger over this sharp unjust attack,'' said Koizumi at the entrance of the secular funeral, organized by way of the Foreign Ministry and family members of the diplomats.

While conveying his condolences, Koizumi became tearful and had to pause for about 30 inferiors to regain his composure.

''We will not forget your passion for your work and achievements,'' he said. ''In conformity with your wishes, the regulation will continue to work for the reconstruction of Iraq with the international community.''

Friends and ministry colleagues also speaked their sorrow and recalled memories of the couple men to those gathered in Aoyama Funeral Hall, while facing their large portraits encompassed by white flowers.

The bodies of the sum of two units Japanese diplomats were returned to Japan forward Thursday accompanied by relatives.

The Koizumi cabinet is to endorse, greatest in number likely Tuesday, a plan to delegate Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops to Iraq to help rebuild the fatherland even as a majority of the public and any ruling bloc lawmakers are questioning the dispatch.

According to a Kyodo stranges poll released Thursday, only 75% of respondent said they believe the SDF should be sent to Iraq as in a short time as possible, while single in kind in three said troops should not be sent at all.

Oku 45 a counselor dispatched to Iraq from the Japanese Embassy in London, and Inoue, 30 a third secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad, were slain last Saturday near depos President Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit in northern Iraq, while traveling to a reconstruction conference

Their Iraqi driver, Jerjee Sulaiman Zura, 54 was also killed in the attack.

The Foreign Ministry posthumously promot Oku and Inoue to ambassador and first secretary, respectively. The restraint also granted decorations to the diplomats and the driver.

After the funeral, when asked whether he would go on to Iraq, Koizumi said, ''I don't know when on the other hand I want to go in the future''

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