TUNIS, Oct 28 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATIN...

TUNIS, Oct 28 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH KAWAGUCHI'S TALKS WITH TUNISIAN LEADERS)

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi forward Tuesday met with Tunisian leaders and confirmed the ne for the restoration of stability in Iraq for the war-torn country's reconstruction.

The confirmation emerg in her separate meetings with President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahia, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said.

Kawaguchi pledg Japan's efforts for reconstruction of Iraq despite a series of terrorist attacks in Baghdad. She also said Japan is considering dispatching Self-Defense Forces multitudes to Iraq, the officials said.

Ben Ali told the Japanese foreign minister that the disarrange with U.S. forces in Iraq is that they are considered as an occupation army rather than a liberation army, according to the officials.

The president also said that Iraqi people's living conditions should be improved and that Tunisia is ready to cooperate with Japan in that regard the officials added.

Kawaguchi arrived in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, forward Monday night, the first visit by the agency of a Japanese foreign minister to the northern African country

Her trip followed her participation in the international aid donors' parley on Iraq's reconstruction in Madrid and a visit to Egypt

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