The first main Ground Self-Defense Force contingent will head to Iraq in February to engage in reconstruction assistance after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi gives the final go-ahead, according to Defense Agency documents.

According to a duty plan and schedule for the dispatch being worked out by the agency, a government plane will transport the 135-member-strong first GSDF group to Iraq on Feb. 21.

At the same time, the government will have six chartered Antonov transport planes carry 38 vehicles to be used by the noncombat troops in carrying out their operations, which include securing water supplies, in the southeastern city of Samawah.

A 28-member advance GSDF team will leave for Iraq on Jan. 14 on a civilian airliner to set up camp, followed by a 78-member logistics unit on Jan. 31 on a government jet, according to the plan.

The plan calls for the Defense Agency chief to confirm the security situation in the dispatch area and obtain approval from Koizumi before sending the GSDF and the Air Self-Defense Force personnel.

His final endorsement was worked into the plan in response to New Komeito's concerns over the safety of the Self-Defense Forces members, particularly the GSDF and ASDF units that are considered at higher risk than the Maritime Self-Defense Force contingent.

A special law enacted to allow the government to dispatch SDF elements to noncombat zones in Iraq for reconstruction aid stipulates that the prime minister approve only the final plan and the Defense Agency chief has the authority to order the dispatch.

New Komeito is the ruling coalition partner of Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party.

The plan, to be finalized Thursday following Koizumi's endorsement, also designates Samawah, where the troops will be based, and the southeastern port of Umm Qasr, where the MSDF will call, as "noncombat" zones.

The government's dispatch plan, approved last week by the Cabinet, also names Baghdad International Airport as a noncombat zone.

Under the plan, the SDF personnel will not transport arms and ammunition, but the government is planning to make an operational adjustment to allow them to transport armed soldiers, probably U.S. forces.

In the event that fighting breaks out near the SDF area of activities, they will suspend their tasks and evacuate before reporting the situation to the Defense Agency chief.

They will then await further instructions.

The GSDF plan, featuring the dispatch of three core units through March to engage in humanitarian reconstruction assistance, involves 557 individuals and 189 vehicles, including armored vehicles.

Following the first core group on Feb. 21, 195 GSDF members will be dispatched on March 13 and the final batch of 121 troops will be sent on March 21.