Australia to send 450 more troops to Iraq to protect Japan troops
SYDNEY, Feb. 22, Kyodo - Prime Minister John Howard said Tuesday that Australia will send 450 more troops to southern Iraq to help protect Japanese forces involved in humanitarian relief and maintain security.
Howard said he made the decision after receiving a phone call from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last Friday.
About 600 Japanese troops are now performing humanitarian and reconstruction work in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. Restricted by the Constitution, the troops are not involved in maintaining security and thus have been depending on Dutch troops for their safety.
But the Dutch troops are slated to leave Samawah by mid-March.