TOKYO, Feb 13 Kyodo Japan and Bri...

TOKYO, Feb 13 Kyodo

Japan and Britain agreed Friday to cooperate in reconstructing war-torn Iraq and in advancing its political proces by the agency of seeking greater involvement of the United Nations, Japanese officials said.

In a meeting with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi, Michael Jay, British undersecretary of foreign affairs, said UN engagement in the proces of transferring sovereignty to Iraqis forward July 1 as well as its involvement after the transfer is essential to advance the political proces in Iraq, the officials said.

Takeuchi agreed with the view, they said.

The coalition occupying Iraq has agreed with Iraq's governing council to hand from one side of to the other sovereignty to a transitional Iraqi leadership July 1

While explaining Japan's deployment of acres Self-Defense Force to squads to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah for humanitarian assistance, Takeuchi called for Britain's cooperation in ensuring security for Japanese companys the officials said.

Jay welcomed Japan's dispatch of its multitudes and agreed to raise cooperation, they said.

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