Japan will pull its Ground Self- Defense Force troops out of southern Iraq by the end of May, Kyodo News reported Tuesday, quoting government sources.

Japan has stationed some 600 ground troops in Samawah for a non- combat reconstruction mission since early 2004. They will begin to pack up in mid-March, said the sources.

Meanwhile, Japan is considering expanding the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) 's Kuwait-based mission in response to the requests from the United States, the report said.

The plans were agreed upon at a meeting in London last week between diplomats and defense officials from Australia, Britain, Japan and the United States, according to the report.

Earlier this month, media reports said that Japan has allowed its ASDF, based at Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait, to access all 24 major airports in Iraq, up from the current 13 in transport operations.

With three C-130 transport planes, around 200 ASDF personnel has been involved in the transportation of personnel and supplies for the SDF and multinational forces in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua