A contingent of 140 Ground Self-Defense Force troops left Saturday for Iraq via Kuwait as the first replacement unit for troops stationed in Samawah since mid-January.

The unit, mainly from the Sapporo-based 11th Division, left on a government plane from the Air Self-Defense Force Chitose base in Hokkaido after attending a flag presentation ceremony and receiving words of encouragement from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Two other batches of rotation troops are scheduled to ship out to Iraq this month amid the deteriorating security situation there, as seen in the kidnapping of Japanese civilians and mortar shell attacks in the vicinity of the GSDF camp in Samawah.

Vice defense chief Yasukazu Hamada presented a flag to Col. Yuki Imaura, who represented the troops.

At a news conference after the ceremony, Imaura said, "I must admit there is a gap between what locals (in Samawah) want and (what the GSDF troops have been doing)," but added he believes the Japanese efforts will be appreciated as they go along.

A total of about 550 people participated in the ceremony, including the rotation troops and reservists, at the Makomanai garrison where the 11th Division is based.

The troops consist of personnel stationed in Makomanai and other garrisons, including those in Hakodate and Takikawa.

Koizumi, who arrived at the Chitose base after visiting dairy farms in Hokkaido, told the troops prior to their departure, "Having undergone tough training, I hope you will make use of your capabilities and perform your duties. I pray for your safe return."

The first group of returning GSDF troops will come back in phases beginning in the middle of the month.

The GSDF has been rebuilding infrastructure, purifying water and providing medical services in the Samawah area. The Air Self-Defense Force has been airlifting medical supplies between Kuwait and Iraq.