A senior Japanese Defence Agency official has expressed concern that recent violent demonstrations in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, where Australian troops are based, "are escalating". The capital of Al Muthanna province is under the control of Australian forces, who are providing security to a Japanese humanitarian military contingent. SDF Joint Staff Council chairman General Hajime Massaki said the demonstrations may affect the activities of Japanese troops there. "There are signs that the followers of (Shiite cleric) Moqtada al-Sadr are inciting demonstrations,'' Gen Massaki said, acknowledging that Iraqi locals are dissatisfied with electricity shortages and unemployment.On Sunday, at least one person was killed and about 60 were injured in a clash between demonstrators and police in Samawa. Earlier this week, Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill said Australian troops are not involved in the violence. Senator Hill says the Australians are there to guard the Japanese and not to respond to the civil differences. "It is a worrying development but overall the province of al Muthanna remains one of the most stable within Iraq," he said.