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Top Japanese officials delayed a decision Monday on when to withdraw Tokyo's troops from southern Iraq, pending the transfer of security in the region to Iraqi authorities, officials said.

Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and Defense chief Fukushiro Nukaga met to discuss Iraq amid speculation Tokyo will soon announce a withdrawal of its 600 troops in Samawah.

The group agreed a decision on the timing of a withdrawal would have to wait for Iraqi moves to take over security responsibilities in the area from the British, Nukaga said.

"We have to wait and see the outcome of an Iraqi government security meeting," he told a group of reporters after meeting with Aso and Abe.

Japan dispatched troops to Samawah in southern Iraq in early 2004 on a strictly non-combat, humanitarian mission. British and Australian soldiers are providing security in the area, but they are widely expected to withdraw.

Japan's post-World War II constitution limits the military's actions overseas, and a British withdrawal from the area would likely prompt a similar move by the Japanese.

Kyodo News agency reported that Britain could announce a withdrawal as early as Tuesday, and that Japan would follow that with an announcement its own pullout on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a vocal supporter of the US-led military action in Iraq, is scheduled to hold a summit with President Bush in Washington the last week in June.

Kyodo quoted Aso as saying that Japan could start withdrawing its troops before the summit.

(Chinadaily.com via agencies June 19, 2006)