TOKYO, Oct 31 (AFP) - Japan will keep its troops in Iraq despite the killing of a 24-year-old Japanese hostage by Islamic militants demanding a pullout, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Sunday.
"Our country in cooperation with the international community will carry out humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance by the Self-Defense Forces for the sake of the people of Iraq and continue resolutely to fight against terrorism," Koizumi said.
Japan's opposition, which has been critical of the deployment, called Sunday for the government to withdraw the military, known as the Self-Defense Forces, when its mission comes to an end on December 14.
"If the Self-Defense Forces had not been dispatched, this never would have happened," Democratic Party of Japan leader Katsuya Okada told a press conference.
"I want to strongly request a withdrawal," Okada said.
The government has given mixed signals on whether it would seek to extend the troop mission past December 14.
"I ask for understanding and cooperation from the people of Japan," the prime minister said Sunday.
"It is our utmost regret that Mr Shosei Koda fell victim to terrorism although the Japanese government made every possible effort to rescue the hostage," Koizumi said. "I offer my sincere condolences to his family."
"I renew my feeling of strong indignation at the depriving of the life of an innocent civilian," he said.
Japan on Sunday confirmed that a beheaded body found in Baghdad belonged to Koda, a Japanese tourist who appeared in a video Tuesday by Islamic militants demanding Tokyo withdraw its troops within 48 hours.
Koizumi refused the demand.
It is Japan's first military deployment since World War II to an area of active fighting.
10/31/2004 04:30 GMT - AFP