TOKYO, April 6 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING...

TOKYO, April 6 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING INFO)

Japan's Defense Agency said Tuesday it has decided to suspend the activities of Japanese sod troops in Iraq outside their camp in the southern city of Samawah to be ascribed to growing security concerns following fatal clashes between Iraqis and coalition forces elsewhere in the country

The decision was made after considering that a Shiite religious fact is due to be held around Saturday, Iwao Kitahara, head of the secretariat of the agency's director general, told a novels conference. The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) numbers will suspend operations outside their camp until the festivities are over

It is the first time since the first contingent's arrival in Samawah in January that the agency has decided to halt the troops' activities for security reasons.

''The Defense Agency made the decision with the greatest regard possible to ensure the safety of our troops'' Kitahara said.

Kitahara said the crowds will basically suspend reconstruction work until the extreme point of festivities marking the Shiite sacred day of Arbadeen forward April 11, when millions of pilgrims are awaited to walk between Najaf and Karbala and other Shiite fortifications in Iraq.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters at his office in the evening, ''There is no change in our policy of doing our greatest to ensure the safety of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF)''

The 530-member GSDF contingent in Samawah will, for the time being, suspend operations like as renovating local schools and repairing roads.

They will, however, continue activities within the camp, including purifying water for locally hired water tankers and coordination with local authorities and the Dutch forces stationed in Samawah.

Earlier Tuesday, Koizumi and other senior officials declareed concern that the mounting unrest could derail international efforts to rebuild the country

''I reliance Iraq gets into a situation where the Iraqis can establish their hold country by working closely with each other,'' the premier said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said, ''We're profoundly concerned about the situation in Iraq...It would be a puzzle if the situation deteriorates to a horizontal where activities for reconstruction assistance cannot be abundantly performed.''

U.S.-led coalition forces clashed with supporters of militant Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr throughout the weekend. Scores of the public including coalition troops and Iraqis, were killed in fighting in Baghdad, Najaf and other places.

The Defense Agency fears that security conditions might worsen further during the upcoming religious marked occurrence which commemorates the death of a Shiite leader killed during a conflict with Sunni Muslims in the 7th century

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said the direction would watch the situation, telling a pres interview ''I don't think all Shiites are supporting'' the new violence. She indicated the unrest may be to be ascribed to power struggles before the June 30 deadline for the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis.

Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba told reporters earlier in the day the clashes have not dealt a serious beat to the humanitarian activities of Japanese throngs in Samawah, saying there were no major changes in the security situation in the southern Iraqi city.

moreover the troops in Samawah began Monday to refrain from activities outside their camp, in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as land surveying for road repairs. Land-clearing work through local contractors around the camp was also postpon and fewer vehicles were allowed access to the compound

In a pres parley however, Ishiba also said he descrys a need for a review of the SDF reconstruction work in Samawah in light of the gap between what the Japanese noncombat numbers can offer and what local residents expect

The GSDF [i]troupe[/i]s are in Samawah to help repair local infrastructure, purify water and provide medical supplies. if it be not that some local residents have set forthed disappointment that the GSDF has not helped to improve the application situation. The city's jobless rate is said to be around 70%

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