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US President George W. Bush will announce actions against Iraq after 0200 GMT Thursday, two hours after his ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to leave or face war expired, Japan's TBS Television reported.
Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi told an informal cabinet meeting Thursday that a US-led attack on Iraq may come Thursday night Japan time, Kyodo News reported.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but it could probably be tonight," Japanese Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama quoted Kawaguchi as saying.
Kyodo News also reported that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will give a press conference Thursday to reiterate Japan's support if the United States invades Iraq.
The prime minister will also set up a cabinet task force to deal with the crisis, and is expected to release a statement and announce a package of urgent measures at the press conference, it said.
He will also hold an emergency cabinet meeting shortly to adopt a basic policy on Japan's response to the Iraqi war, it added.
(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)
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