Iraq-bound Japan troops in Gulf

The troops will be heavily armed to defend themselves

Soldiers from Japan have arrived in the Gulf, on their way to a controversial mission to Iraq.

It is the first time a Japanese contingent has been sent to a combat zone since World War II.

About 30 soldiers arrived in Kuwait on Saturday - ahead of a 1,000-strong force due to arrive by March.

Japan's constitution bans its soldiers from fighting overseas and there are fears that the troops could get drawn into combat in Iraq.

The soldiers will receive some training in Kuwait, where a team of 20 Japanese air force staff has been making preparations since last month.

They will then deploy in the south Iraqi town of Samawah - a largely peaceful part of Iraq - where they will help restore water services, offer humanitarian assistance and help rebuild schools and other infrastructure.

PACIFISM UNDER THREAT? Japan's constitution renounces the use of force This has been stretched to allow self-defence troops 1992 law allowed troops to join UN and relief work overseas 2003 law said troops could go to non-combat zones in Iraq PM Koizumi wants to give Japan even greater powers In pictures: Troops head out Papers express reservations

In all, 600 ground troops and 400 air force and naval personnel are due to be deployed.

The mission has caused controversy and raised fears of terrorist attacks.

About 100 demonstrators protested outside the defence ministry in Tokyo during Friday's departure ceremony.

Surveys suggest that at least two-thirds of the Japanese public are opposed to the plan with critics arguing that the mission violates the post-war constitution, in which Japan renounced war forever.

An apparent threat from al-Qaeda aimed at Japan, reported in an Arabic newspaper late last year, raised security concerns regarding its operation in Iraq.

However, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Tokyo says the deployment seems irreversible and attention has turned to revising the constitution so that Japan can in future contribute more easily to multinational military operations.

Protests

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has defended his decision to send troops, saying that Japan will never earn what he calls an "honoured place" in the world if it refuses to risk the lives of its servicemen abroad.

The country was criticised for contributing only money, not troops, after the 1991 Gulf War.

Japanese media have reported that the army will have portable anti-tank rocket launchers and recoilless guns to protect against possible suicide bomb attacks.

A special law allowing the dispatch was passed by Japan's parliament in July but only under the condition that the troops be sent to a place away from combat.

Japanese troops have served non-combat roles in UN peacekeeping operations in several countries - including Cambodia, Rwanda, and East Timor.