Ono ties the withdrawal of troops to the establishment of a new Iraqi government.

Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono indicated Sunday that the Self-Defense Forces could be out of Iraq by December 2005.

Appearing on a Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) program, Ono said, ``The departure will be when Iraqi reconstruction has been completed to a certain degree. Since December 2005 will mark the end of the duties of the multinational force in Iraq, that would be one cut-off point.''

December 2005 is the target date for installation of a new Iraqi government.

Ono was asked about the criteria for deciding whether to extend the SDF dispatch to Iraq beyond this year's Dec. 14 deadline, set by a special law.

``While we have to consider the state of Iraqi reconstruction, we will have to continue with assistance efforts if reconstruction is only partly completed,'' Ono said.

``We also have to look at the security situation. While there is the impression that the overall security situation in Iraq is worsening because of the all-out offensive on Fallujah, the security situation in Samawah has not changed.''

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also indicated Friday that it would be highly unlikely for the Cabinet not to approve an extension of the SDF presence.

Sources said the Cabinet is expected to approve the extension around Dec. 10, after the current Diet session is over.

Government sources said inquiries had been made with Britain about the possibility of the British military succeeding the Dutch in overseeing the maintenance of security in Muthanna province and its capital, Samawah, where the Ground SDF has its base.

The move to seek British help comes because the Dutch government decided this month to withdraw its troops next March. Currently, about 1,300 Dutch troops are in Muthanna province.

Dutch Defense Minister Henk Kamp is scheduled to arrive in Japan today for talks with Ono. Kamp is expected to explain his government's decision to withdraw the troops.

SDF officers are in discussions with their British and Dutch counterparts on what security structure would be possible after the Dutch withdrawal.

Ono said Friday that since Britain was in charge of overall security for southern Iraq, London could be asked to assist in preserving security in Muthanna. However, sources said Britain had yet to respond positively about taking over those duties.

Britain is handling duties in central Iraq that were to have been the responsibility of the United States. Public opinion in Britain will also make raising the number of British troops in Iraq difficult.

If the British military does not accept Japan's requests for security assistance, the SDF would have to depend on the Iraqi interim government's military.

That would leave open the possibility that the SDF would be the only foreign presence in Samawah after the Dutch leave.

Defense Agency officials are concerned about the possibility of terrorists and the frustration of the local population shifting focus from the Dutch military to the SDF after March.(IHT/Asahi: November 29,2004)