 The US asked Japan in late October to transfer its ground troops from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to elsewhere in the country to improve local security and administrative capability, Japanese media reported Saturday, citing diplomatic sources in Washington. The proposal for Japan to join the project was made by US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, who visited Japan in late October, the sources involved in Iraq's reconstruction told Kyodo News Agency. Tokyo responded it is impossible for the Japanese troops to participate in such work at the moment. Where Washington would like to see Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops transferred to is unknown, it said. The GSDF is deployed in Iraq to help with reconstruction work. |