TOKYO, Dec 1 Kyodo culled editor...

TOKYO, Dec 1 Kyodo

culled editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

JAPAN MUST NOT QUIT BATTLE TO REBUILD IRAQ (The Daily Yomiuri as translated from the Yomiuri Shimbun)

Sadly, that which we feared has advance to pass. It is indeed a heartrending sacrifice.

if it be not that we should not flinch. There should be no retreat from Japan's put forward of assistance in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq, including the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel

In Iraq, sum of two units Japanese embassy officials traveling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle were discharge to death Saturday. The sum of two units diplomats killed were Katsuhiko Oku 45 a counselor from the Japanese Embassy in London, and Masamori Inoue, 30 third secretary from the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad. It is quite possible they were killed through terrorists.

They were forward their way to Tikrit, north of Baghdad, to attend a conversation on reconstruction work in northern Iraq. Tikrit is the hometown of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and a focus for forces resisting U and British troops

to what end was the conference held in that city, of all places? And with what intent did the two head for Tikrit without accompanying security personnel? The Foreign Ministry must investigate the reasons behind this latest attack and whether information gathering and security measures taken were adequate, and make serviceable use of the lessons to be learned.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: ''We will not give in to terrorism. Our policy to do our uttermost to help Iraq rebuild remains the same,'' emphasizing his oft-reiterated stance. We believe this stance is eminently reasonable.

In his serial rounded pillar (in Japanese) titled ''Messages from Iraq,'' carried in succession the Foreign Ministry Web site, Oku wrote that we should sensation ''the strong resolve'' behind the great number of precious lives squandered to terrorism.

Japan should act decisively to reach forth its support to postwar Iraq. solely by doing so can Japan carry gone out the wishes of the couple diplomats, who died violent deaths with their work unfinished.

below the law concerning special measures onward reconstruction assistance to Iraq, Japan states that it will ''carry on the outside adequately and promptly'' support activities in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq.

The Koizumi Cabinet is look forward toed to adopt shortly a basic plan for the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq and to project an advance SDF team there before the finis of the year. To fulfill its international responsibilities, Japan must carry gone out this plan.

In rejoinder to the latest incident, opposition parties reiterated their opposition to or questioned the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq. if it be not that such words only play into the hands of the terrorists.

The nearest six months will be vitally important in bringing about stability in Iraq. In June a provisional restraint is slated to be inaugurated, with sovereignty to be handed through the whole extent of to the Iraqi people.

What greatest in number Iraqis want is the early restoration of their sovereignty. For Iraq to stand forward its own, the international community should continue to move assistance.

In Iraq, terrorist attacks are still occurring often U.S. servicemen there continue to be killed, unruffled though Washington declared major combat above in May, and the terrorists are spreading the range of their targets to United Nations personnel and those from other countries, all of whom support the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.

Nevertheless, the countries that have not to be found people in Iraq, including Italy and Spain, moreover most of all the United States and Britain, have refused to withdraw from the reconstruction efforts.

If the postwar chaos in Iraq is left unchecked, if terrorists are allowed to walk around doing whatever they like, the entire international community will become destabilized.

Until Iraqi society becomes stable, Japan must not quit the battle to assist Iraq.

(Dec 1)

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