Iraq's foreign minister urged Japan on Friday to extend its soon-to expire troop dispatch in support of U.S.-led reconstruction efforts, saying pulling out the troops now would send "the wrong message" to insurgents. "Because of the sensitivity of the timing and the critical stage we are going through, it is very important for this force to remain committed," Hohshyar Zebari said at a news conference in Tokyo. "Any premature withdrawal will send the wrong message." Japan has deployed about 600 non-combat troops to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to purify water and rebuild schools. The mission expires Dec. 14, but Tokyo hasn't decided whether to renew it. Zebari, on an international tour with stops in Russia and France, asked for Japan's continued troop support in separate meetings Friday with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga. Nukaga said Japan is "proud" of the work its forces have done but gave no commitment on an extension, while Zebari said Koizumi gave a "clear commitment" to continue support for the democratization process in Iraq.
