http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20060225/ts_nm/iraq_japan_dc_2TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is considering withdrawing its non-combat ground troops from Iraq in two phases between April and June, and may announce the plan next month, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said on Saturday.
But the Yomiuri newspaper, another local daily, said Japan had told the United States, Britain, and Australia in a meeting in London on Friday that the pullout would start in late March and end in May, a timeframe in line with earlier media reports.
The three countries agreed to Japan's plan, Yomiuri said.
Officials at Japan's foreign and defense ministries were not immediately available for comment.