The Japanese government is likely to delay cabinet approval of a plan to send non-combat troops to help rebuild Iraq amid public shock over the killing of two of its diplomats there, media reports say.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet had been expected to approve a basic plan for the dispatch as early as Friday, allowing authorities to make preparations for a mission.
But the Nihon Keizaibusiness daily said on Tuesday the government was likely to postpone approval until next week at the earliest. Other papers carried similar reports, with the Sankei Shimbunsaying approval could be given towards the middle of the month.
The Asahi Shimbunsaid the government would not send civilians to Iraq until the security situation improved significantly, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said there was no decision on when the plans might be approved.
But Trade Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said: "We must not give in to terrorism, and the incident should not be an obstacle to our work in rebuilding Iraq, nor should it be an impediment to the process of deciding whether we should send troops or not."
Any delays in cabinet approval could make it increasingly difficult for Japan to send troops to Iraq by the end of the year, and could also complicate budgeting plans.