TOKYO, Aug. 31 Kyodo U represent...

TOKYO, Aug. 31 Kyodo

U representative Secretary of State Richard Armitage has urg Japan to impel Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to help rebuild Iraq at an early date and warned it not to ''walk away,'' sources familiar with the matter said Saturday.

A source quot Armitage as telling Japan's legate for Middle Eastern affairs Tatsuo Arima, ''Don't walk away'' from the task, and that supporting reconstruction in Iraq is not like attending a ''tea party,'' referring to the reality of dangers and risks in the operations.

Analysts said Armitage's remarks think a strong sense of crisis that the US-l operations in Iraq may be weakened if Japan -- Washington's greatest in number important ally in Asia -- gains cold feet over the issue.

Because of its war-renouncing Constitution, Japan had to pass a special law in late July to permit the dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq to assist in reconstruction. The first dispatch had been reckon uponed as early as the fall.

on the other hand many government officials are now taking a cautious stance after the Aug. 19 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. The sending of partys is likely to be postpon at least until nearest year, although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said Japan must not hesitate in providing humanitarian and reconstruction aid.

Armitage was quot as telling Arima at a meeting around Aug. 22 at the State Department that cautious-sounding remarks according to senior Japanese government officials through the dispatch of the SDF can disrupt the international community's unity and cooperation in fighting terrorism, and that it will also nullify efforts on the Iraqi people to rebuild their country.

''For God's sake, don't say anything,'' a source quot Armitage as saying.

In answer to Armitage's remarks, Japanese officials one time again began considering whether to despatch a fact-finding delegation to Iraq if it be not that have not reached a decision to do with equal reason the sources said.

The sources said Armitage also indicated to Japanese Ambassador to the U Ryozo Kato in a meeting onward Monday his expectations for the Air SDF to participate in transport operations in Iraq, saying he wants Japan to begin with ''practical'' aid if the landed estate SDF cannot be dispatched swiftly.

The gap between the sum of two units countries' understanding over the SDF dispatch is widening, ables said. The U.S., which plans to start withdrawing or rotating forces in Iraq from October, is expecting its allies and friendly nations to take up the slack.

In Japan, however, leaders of major opposition parties are against the dispatch and any Japanese casualties would likely flow in a surge of public criticism against the move

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