Briefly: Al-Qaida No. 2 says Japan a target

CAIRO--Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader said Tuesday that Japan is among nations targeted for attack by the terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden.

Ayman Al-Zawahri spoke in an audiotaped response to a question submitted by Kyodo News service to a website of the terrorist group.

Al-Zawahri said he regards Japan's involvement in Iraq to be part of "the crusader forces invading the homelands of Islam."

Ground Self-Defense Force troops were dispatched to Samawah, southern Iraq, for humanitarian assistance. While he agreed the GSDF troops helped Iraq, he said Tokyo should have sent nonmilitary personnel.(IHT/Asahi: April 24,2008)