Negotiations between Japan and Qatar for a status of forces agreement to cover a Self-Defense Forces dispatch to the Mideast country to support reconstruction in Iraq have hit a snag over Qatar's request to keep contents of the accord confidential, government sources said Monday.

The talks effectively broke down last month when Japan turned down Qatar's request, the sources said.

A Foreign Ministry official said there is no precedent for Japan to conclude an accord with a foreign country whose details cannot be revealed.

The SOFA was to stipulate, among other things, how SDF personnel were to be treated in the event they are suspected of committing crimes while stationed in Qatar.

The two sides also failed to come to terms over the criminal penalties that would be meted out under Islamic law, the sources said.

Islamic countries in the region are nervous about stationing foreign troops in their territory for fear of antagonizing their neighbors. The failure of the talks may place limits on SDF activities when they are deployed.

According to the sources, Qatar is believed to have signed SOFAs with several countries. However, contents of the agreements have not been disclosed and Qatar has asked the countries not even to announce that such agreements have been signed.

Tokyo has been seeking to conclude the SOFA before dispatching its troops to Iraq and vicinity.

Japan hopes to base transport planes in Qatar and Kuwait, where U.S. bases are already established. It has already reached a basic agreement with Kuwait to sign a SOFA.