Britain promises to safeguard Japanese troops in Iraq
Britain promised to help safeguard Japanese troops engaged in a non-combat mission in southern Iraq if the Netherlands ends its deployment. The promise was made when Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon met his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba, officials said Tuesday. The Netherlands plans to withdraw its troops in March next year from the Iraqi city of Samawa where Japan has been engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction acitivities since late last year.Full Story