Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi indicated Sunday that the deaths of two Japanese diplomats in Iraq, possibly at the hands of terrorists, will not change his plan to send troops to the war-torn country.
"I have said Japan will do everything it should regarding Iraq's reconstruction, humanitarian assistance and dispatch of the SDF as well as civilians and government officials," Koizumi told reporters at his residence. "Our basic policy remains the same."
The deaths of the two diplomats were the first involving Japanese since U.S. President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat in Iraq in May.
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