U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney told Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday that Washington would do its best to help rescue three Japanese nationals being held hostage in Iraq.
Koizumi said he is grateful for the cooperation of the U.S. and that Japan would continue with its reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Self-Defense Forces troops are deployed to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. Cheney is in Tokyo on a four-day visit through Tuesday.
"I believe the activities of the SDF in Samawah are essential" to Iraq's reconstruction, Cheney was quoted as saying by a Japanese official who briefed reporters. "Japan's policy on Iraq is taking the right course and we appreciate it."