Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said yesterday he wanted to visit Iraq, as he prepared to send troops to the war-torn country despite growing objections at home after two Japanese diplomats were killed there.
"I don't know when it would be, but I want to visit [Iraq] in the future," Koizumi told reporters after attending a funeral for the two diplomats slain in an ambush in northern Iraq a week ago.
Such a visit by the prime minister has already been rumored in some media.
Koizumi delivered a tearful speech at the government-sponsored funeral attended by 1,400 people, including Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and US ambassador Howard Baker.
"I feel a deep sorrow for the loss of the two excellent diplomats and feel strong anger over this cruel attack," Koizumi said at the televised funeral at Aoyama Funeral Hall.
He had to pause for some 20 seconds after he apparently choked with emotion, putting his fingers over his eyes.
Asked afterwards about the speech, Koizumi told reporters: "Indeed, I was mortified beyond words."
Koizumi's government has said, however, that it remains committed to sending Japanese troops to "no-combat zones" in relatively safe southern Iraq on a reconstruction and humanitarian mission.
The cabinet is expected to approve a basic deployment plan on Tuesday.
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