The ruling coalition reached agreement Thursday night on the government's plan to send an advance Ground Self-Defense Force team to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah possibly next week, paving the way for the dispatch of the main GSDF contingent to help in reconstruction efforts.
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, secretary general of New Komeito, the coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, gave his party's consent to the plan during talks with his LDP counterpart, Shinzo Abe.
The meeting was also attended by senior government officials.