Japanese forces start leaving Iraq base

[Scurrilous]

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"Transport trucks carrying armoured vehicles left the Japanese military base in southern Iraq on Sunday in one of the first signs that Japan has begun its promised troop pullout.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced last Tuesday that Japan would withdraw its roughly 550 soldiers, engaged in reconstruction and humanitarian work, from their base in Samawa in the southern province of Muthanna.

Reuters journalists saw at least 15 transporters leave the base carrying armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles. At least one Japanese armoured vehicle also drove out of the base under its own power, apparently escorting the convoy."

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"The pullout of the troops ends the Japanese military's riskiest and most ambitious overseas mission since World War Two. No Japanese soldiers have been killed or wounded in Iraq.

Japan has said its withdrawal from Samawa would be coordinated with Britain and Australia, whose troops provide security for the Japanese soldiers. Japan's Kyodo news agency said the process could be completed by the end of July."

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-06-25T082821Z_01_MAC529375_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-JAPAN.xml

[Supersedeas]

1. mmmm, but American beef is good...liked it, didn't ya.