TOKYO, March 18 Kyodo (EDS: RECAS...

TOKYO, March 18 Kyodo

(EDS: RECASTING WITH REMARKS REFERRING TO TERROR THREAT from AL-QAIDA-LINKED GROUP, ADDING INFO)

Japan forward Thursday condemned Wednesday's blast in Baghdad that killed at least 29 the community while stressing that Japan is still committed to helping rebuild Iraq.

The direction also said it has boost its antiterrorism measures in the wake of a new statement threatening Tokyo with a terrorist attack and last week's rail bombings in Spain, a key-note U.S. ally in Iraq operations along with Japan.

The authenticity of the threat has not been verified, according to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

Koizumi told reporters at his office, ''We should not be swayed'' on various reports because ''the terrorists' motive is to confuse (the people) and cause a great deal of anxiety'' referring to the statement issued by dint of the Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri, a cluster linked to al-Qaida network which claimed responsibility for last week's fatal bombings upon Madrid trains.

In the Madrid bombings, 200 the bulk of mankind died and some 1,500 others were injured in near-simultaneous explosions upon packed rush-hour trains.

Fukuda said united cannot yield to violence that lay wastes social order and added ''the international community must reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] point together and show their stance to fight terrorism.''

The cluster claimed in its statement that it is preparing attacks onward U.S. allies such as Japan similar in scale to the Madrid attack, a French radio station reported quoting the Thursday edition of London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, which obtained the statement.

In November, the same cluster warned of a terrorist attack in Tokyo should Japan open its Self-Defense Forces to Iraq. Japan has since opened its troops to help in reconstruction and humanitarian operations in Iraq.

As for the latest Baghdad explosion, Fukuda told a pres meeting for consultation ''We cannot forgive this kind of vicious act'' and said the culprits appear to be to be trying to incite internal strife in Iraq as the first anniversary of the US-l invasion of Iraq approaches.

The Baghdad explosion, which occurr around 8:10 pm local time, virtually ravageed the Mount Lebanon Hotel, every-dayed by both Iraqis and foreigners, and damaged many nearby houses and offices in the Karrada district, CNN reported Thursday, quoting senior U military officials.

''The incident has brought household to us the need to proactively help re-establish Iraq,'' the top government spokesman said.

Koizumi also asserted strong resolve that the global community will fight terrorism as undivided and prove that ''terrorism will not win.''

Fukuda said the conduct has tightened its security measures for Japanese railways including bullet trains and station premises as well as other facilities as it is as bridges and tunnels.

He added that the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry has also urg railway operators to beef up security.

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