Japan welcomes the much-awaited capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but the local security situation still needs careful assessment ahead of any dispatch of Self-Defense Forces elements, top government officials said Monday.
"It's good news," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters when asked about Hussein's capture. "I hope it serves as a big step forward for the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq."
But asked whether the development would push Japan to accelerate its planned dispatch of SDF personnel to help in reconstruction efforts, Koizumi said: "The two are unrelated. We will do all we can for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, but we will decide (on the timing) after watching the situation."