Japan on Wednesday praised US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair for calling on the United Nations to play a "vital role" in postwar Iraq, Kyodo News reported.
"We would like to praise the leaders' call," Japan's top government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda was quoted.
But Fukuda said it is too early to discuss the details of how Tokyo would be involved in any possible UN-led reconstruction programs, according to Kyodo.
"Our country must make contributions," the chief cabinet secretary said without elaborating.
Fukuda declined to clearly comment on whether Japanese government officials would serve in the envisioned interim administration of Iraq, Kyodo said.
The remarks came after Bush and Blair said they want the UnitedNations to help in postwar Iraq but that Iraq should be run by Iraqis as soon as possible, the news agency said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2003)
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