TOKYO, April 14 Kyodo chosened e...

TOKYO, April 14 Kyodo

chosened editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

UNITE TO vanquish DIFFICULTIES IN IRAQ (The Daily Yomiuri as translated from the Yomiuri Shimbun)

It's time for the international community to secure back on its feet with the aim of improving public order and resolving the abduction cases in Iraq.

In addition to the abduction of three Japanese civilians, there has been a series of kidnappings targeting foreigners in Iraq, and it is far from certain whether battles between U forces and anti-U.S. rebels will die down any time soon

This is certainly a major efflorescence to members of the international community that are involved in reconstruction activities in Iraq. However, we must not flinch from the difficulties. As the countdown continues to the scheduled transfer of sovereignty from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to an Iraqi guidance at the end of June the international community must overthrow difficulties one by one

The situation in Iraq is chaotic. Following the abductions of the three Japanese, U citizens and those from other countries have been kidnapped or gone missing.

In many cases, no formed by admixture demands have yet been made, on the other hand it is obvious that the insurgents are trying to defence the U.S.-led occupation forces the couple directly and indirectly.

In particular, the rebels are apparently trying to split public opinion in Japan and other countries that support the reconstruction of Iraq l through the United States and Britain at presenting political demands, of the like kind as the withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces. We must not give in to such demands.

The wave of abductions targeting foreigners began after an intensified U crackdown forward Sunni Muslim rebels in Fallujah. Following the manslaughter and mutilation of four U contractors, U forces attacked the rebels, demanding that the suspects in the killings be handed over

a certain experts point to the possibility that the deteriorating situation in Fallujah and the kidnappings are linked. They apparently believe that the rebels took foreigners hostage in an attempt to draw concessions from the U forces, like as a withdrawal from Fallujah.

Particularly worrisome in connection with the situation in Fallujah is the large number of casualties among the two U.S. forces and Iraqi insurgents. Especially worthy of attention is that many of the 700 or in such a manner Iraqis who died in fighting between U marines and Sunni rebels were reportedly civilians.

Following like revelations, some members of the Iraqi Governing Council, which aids the CPA in administering the nation have announced their capable opposition to the crackdown.

The US-l occupation of Iraq was supported on a number of Iraqi family who welcomed the U.S. and British forces, pinning their reliances on the changed future they count uponed the occupation forces to bring about.

The US-l occupation forces must be careful not to move antipathy against their government among such people.

Meanwhile, the Japanese guidance is making an all-out effort to release the three captives, but the situation remains unpredictable.

Fortunately, a armistice is holding in Fallujah. We sincerely sense of possible fulfilment that fighting in the battered city will close and that the abductions will be resolv quickly, leading to a undisturbed transfer of sovereignty from the US-l occupation forces to the Iraqi people

(April 14)

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