Japan begins withdrawal from Iraq

A convoy of more than a dozen military vehicles and engineering equipment left the Japanese base in the southern province of Muthanna for Kuwait, an AFP photographer reported from the Kuwaiti border.

Japanese military officials in Samawa confirmed that the withdrawal of its 600 troops from Iraq had begun with the dispatch of military trucks and other equipment to Kuwait.

The convoy of small military vehicles, bulldozers and other engineering equipment used in reconstruction work left the Samawa base at around 6:45 am (0245 GMT) and is now in Kuwait, a Japanese military official told the photographer.

However none of the 600 soldiers stationed in Samawa formed part of the convoy.

On June 20 Japan ordered its troops to leave Iraq, ending its first military mission since World War II to a country where fighting is under way.

Japan relies on British and Austrialian troops for protection in Iraq as its own troops are barred from using force.

The Japanese withdrawal is expected to be complete by late July.

Last week Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced that Iraqi forces will assume responsibility for security in Muthanna province -- the first such handover of a region from coalition troops to fledgling Iraqi forces.

Japan's military mission, which has helped reconstruct the relatively peaceful area around the city of Samawa since January 2004, is the first of its kind since Japan was forced by the United States to renounce war after World War II.

The Japanese troops suffered no casualties and did not fire their weapons