Japan's Iraq troops can defend selves-Dutch minister

TOKYO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Japanese troops in Iraq are capable of defending themselves and do not need other forces to protect them after Dutch soldiers withdraw from the area in March next year, Dutch Defence Minister Henk Kamp said on Tuesday.

Dutch troops currently maintain security in Samawa, the base for 550 Japanese troops, whose activities are strictly limited by Japan's pacifist constitution. Their planned withdrawal has raised concerns among a Japanese public increasingly wary of keeping troops in Iraq due to worsening security. snip

But in line with Japan's U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution, use of those arms is strictly limited to self-defence, and Japanese troops cannot act in defence of another country's soldiers.

The Japanese must also give a verbal warning, followed by warning shots fired into the air, before firing against an advancing enemy.

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