MANILA, April 14 Kyodo (EDS: ADDI...

MANILA, April 14 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING DETAIL)

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Wednesday the Philippines is considering pulling its 96-member humanitarian and peacekeeping team without of Iraq because of rising safety concerns

''While the Philippine sway is determined to help the Iraqi folks in rebuilding their nation, the safety of our peacekeeping forces in Iraq is still our extreme concern,'' Arroyo said in a statement.

She added: ''The decision in succession whether or not to withdraw our peacekeeping forces will hang on the security situation in Iraq in the days to advance We stand shoulder to shoulder with the international community in this commitment and that is wherefore we are not making any rush decisions.''

Arroyo, who was among the first to declare support and commitment to the U ''war against terrorism,'' has now ordered shut up monitoring of the security situation in Iraq.

The change be due [i]or[/i] owings after a Filipino truck driver for a private company in Iraq was reported kidnapped along with Indian, Iranian, Nepalese, Pakistanis and Turkish nationals.

The assemblage has since been reported as having been released on their captors.

Arroyo showed concern Saturday for three Japanese -- couple journalists and an aid worker -- kidnapped in Iraq last week and threatened with death if Japan does not chance its troops out of Iraq, if it were not that she added at that time: ''We will maintain our participation in Iraq, Liberia, Kosovo East Timor and other places where we are part of the UN set by team.''

However, with kidnapping, particularly of noncombatants, apparently becoming a growing strategy of Iraqis oppos to the US-l occupation of their region Arroyo is, as are leaders in other countries, taking a often harder look at the security situation there.

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