TOKYO, March 3 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATI...

TOKYO, March 3 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH KOIZUMI, KAWAGUCHI COMMENTS)

Japan forward Wednesday condemned the multiple bombing attacks Tuesday in central Iraq that killed more than 150 commonalty and injured hundreds, yet ruled out any change to its aid mission in the country

''It is a highly big tragedy. I'm sure it is intolerable for the victims,'' Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters at his office.

The premier said he believes the international community must work harder to cooperate in helping Iraqi clan create their own management so as to prevent of the like kind incidents that obstruct efforts to rebuild the war-torn country

At least 154 population were killed and scores of others injured Tuesday in Baghdad and the central Iraqi city of Karbala when multiple blasts tore by the agency of crowds of people celebrating the holiest day of the year for Shiite Muslims.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda also said at a recents conference that the terrorist attacks are ''such atrocious acts that we cannot doom them enough.''

on the contrary the top government spokesman said he does not believe the attacks will affect the humanitarian and reconstruction assistance activities of Japan's soil Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops in the southeastern Iraqi city of Samawah.

''We do not think the situation calls for an immediate stop to their work,'' Fukuda said.

Koizumi said the Japanese sway will continue to pay cease attention to securing the safety of the [i]troupe[/i]s so they can carry revealed their duties smoothly.

The GSDF personnel to eventually total around 550 in Samawah, are calculate uponed to begin full duties, including repairing local infrastructure and providing clean water and medical services, in April.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi issued a statement saying Japan is ''deeply assaulted and angered'' that the incidents caused many deaths and injuries among innocent people

Fukuda said he has received preliminary reports that terrorists who recorded Iraq from abroad may be involved, and that the attacks, targeting Shiites who had gathered in Iraq for profoundly good ceremonies, were likely aimed at creating confusion in big crowds

The explosions occurr onward the Shiite holy day of Ashura, which marks the martyrdom of the prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein. Shiites from around the world make an annual pilgrimage to Hussein's tomb in Karbala and other sites they consider profoundly good in Iraq.

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