http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/29/content_3419167.htmTOKYO, Aug. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq has formally requested that Japan extend the mission of Japanese troops involved in reconstruction assistance there beyond the December deadline, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday.
"The Japanese government has formally received a request to have the Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops continue their humanitarian and reconstruction aid beyond December," Koizumi saidat a forum of political party leaders ahead of the Sept. 11 general election.
A document in which Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari made the request to Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura arrived in Japan last Monday, he said.
Neither Koizumi nor the source elaborated on how much longer Iraq wants the Japanese troops to stay in the country on their noncombat mission.