CANBERRA, Australia, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will discuss troop deployments in Iraq next week.
The talks will take place at the East Asian Summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur, The Australian newspaper reported.
Australian troops, deployed in southern Iraq, protect Japanese forces who conduct reconstruction and humanitarian work but are barred from combat operations under provisions of Japan's post-World War II constitution.
The Japanese government has extended their mission until the end of 2006 but may begin to withdraw forces before that.
"I do welcome the decision by the Japanese government because I think that now is a bad time for countries to be talking about pulling our of Iraq," Howard was quoted as saying Thursday.
"We're on the eve of an election. I think that election is crucial to the long-term future of Iraq.
"We'll continue to work with our Japanese friends, we'll continue to provide security. As to the long-term details, that's a matter I will in all probability discuss with Mr. Koizumi."
