Japan can participate, under the current legal structure, in minesweeping operations to help reconstruct a postwar Iraq, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Sunday.

"Even without a new law, operations such as removing mines are possible," Kawaguchi said on an NHK television program. She was referring to new legislation being debated that would authorize Japan's involvement in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.

The government is expected to submit the reconstruction support bill to parliament after the U.S.-led war against Iraq ends.

The bill would allow the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq for such operations as transportation, medical care, removing weapons of mass destruction, aiding refugees and engineering, according to Liberal Democratic Party leaders.

The LDP has also said the SDF may participate in minesweeping operations in the Persian Gulf.

Kawaguchi said reconstruction under the framework of the United Nations is desirable. "International coordination is necessary and the involvement of the U.N. is important," she said.

The foreign minister also said a resolution on the reconstruction of Iraq, if adopted by the U.N. Security Council, would be "meaningful."

Touching on scenarios for a postwar administration, Kawaguchi said it is important for Iraq, among other things, not to be run by a dictator.

War opposition high

Nearly eight in 10 Japanese people are opposed to the war on Iraq, a recently released Kyodo News survey shows.

According to the poll, conducted on a total of 50 men and 50 women representing all of Japan's 47 prefectures, 78 said they oppose the U.S.-led action in Iraq, with most saying they are unconditionally against war.

When asked why she opposed the war, a 41-year-old Gunma Prefecture woman said, "The number of casualties among citizens is growing."

Sixty-eight of respondents said they are against Tokyo's support for the U.S.-led military campaign.

Of those not supportive of the government, many criticized Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, saying he is just blindly going along with the United States.

Said a 25-year-old Osaka man: "I feel U.S. egotism."

Those who approved of the government's position said they think U.S. support is necessary to maintain Japan's security.

"It would be problematic if Japan could not get support from the U.S. in the event of attacks from North Korea," said a 68-year-old Nagasaki Prefecture woman.

The respondents were aged between their teens and 70s. The poll was conducted by telephone and direct interviews.