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Al-Sadr's group conducts poll to evaluate Japan's troops

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the Japanese ground troops stationed in the southeastern Iraqi cit of Samawah gives instructions to local residents Jan. 3 on how to repair a garage damaged during the Iraqi war. A group led by anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said it is conducting a public poll in Samawah to find out how local residents evaluate the reconstruction activities of the Japanese troops.

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Japanese troops start pulling out of Iraq

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A British helicopter carrying the first group of Japanese ground troops leaves the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on July 7. Japan's Air Self-Defense Force C-130 transport aircraft carried the group of about 30 troops from Taril airport, the airport closest to Samawah, to a Kuwaiti airport, marking the start of a monthlong process to end Japan's two-and-a-half-year aid mission in Samawah.

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GSDF armored trucks leave Iraq's Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A convoy carrying a dozen light armored trucks of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force leaves the southern Iraqi city of Samawah for Kuwait on June 25 in the first move to prepare for the withdrawal of GSDF personnel.

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GSDF armored trucks leave Iraq's Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A trailer carrying a dozen light armored trucks of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force leaves the southern Iraqi city of Samawah for Kuwait on June 25 in the first move to prepare for the withdrawal of GSDF personnel.

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Elections begin in Iraq

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Three Iraqi women, one holding a poster of a political party she supports, walk to a polling station in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to cast their ballots as the country's elections began to elect a 275-member National Assembly on Dec. 15.

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Elections begin in Iraq

SAMAWAH, Iraq - An Iraqi man (L) gets his finger inked at a polling station in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah before casting his ballot in the country's parliamentary election on Dec. 15.

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Residents of Iraq's Samawah demand jobs, better utility

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Some 300 residents in Samawah, southern Iraq, hold a rally on June 14 demanding that provincial authorities provide jobs and a better electric utility.

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Australian military advance team arrives in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A 34-member advance team of Australian security troops arrives in Samawah, Iraq, on April 24 where the main party will engage in activities to maintain public safety, including protecting Japan's Self-Defense Forces stationed here.

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(2)203 Iraqi police officers complete British forces training

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A graduation ceremony was held for 203 Iraqi police officers who completed three weeks of training offered by the British forces in Samawah in the southern Iraqi province of Muthana on April 4.

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(1)203 Iraqi police officers complete British forces training

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A total of 203 Iraqi police officers complete three weeks of training in a ceremony organized by the British forces in Samawah in the southern Iraqi province of Muthana on April 4. British forces took over security duties from Dutch troops in March in Samawah, where Japanese ground troops are stationed for reconstruction work.

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Samawah residents protest suicide bombings

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Several hundred residents of Samawah in southern Iraq march through the streets on March 14 to protest against a series of suicide bombings across Iraq targeting Shiite Muslims.

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(4)Dutch troops to hand over security duties in Muthana to Britain

SAMAWAH, Iraq - An armed Dutch vehicle leaves Camp Smitty outside Samawah in the southern Iraqi province of Muthana for Kuwait on March 7 ahead of a ceremony for Dutch troops to hand over to British forces their security duties in the province.

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(3)Dutch troops to hand over security duties in Muthana to Britain

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A British soldier (R) chats with Dutch soldiers at Camp Smitty outside Samawah in the southern Iraqi province of Muthana on March 7 ahead of a ceremony for Dutch troops to hand over to British forces their security duties in the province.

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(2)Iraqi election turnout at least 72% amid attacks

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A Iraqi woman arrives at a polling station in the southern city Iraqi of Samawah on Jan. 30 to vote in the country's first free elections in over half a century.

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Koizumi asked about extension of SDF mission in Iraq

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi answers questions from reporters at his office Dec. 6 about an expected decision by the government to extend the Japanese ground troops' aid mission in Samawah, southern Iraq.

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People protest gov't plan to extend SDF mission in Iraq

HIROSHIMA, Japan - People promoting ban-the-atomic bomb campaigns stage a protest in Hiroshima on Dec. 6 against the Japanese government's plan to extend the current deployment mission in Samawah, southern Iraq.

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200 protesters in Samawah demand SDF pullout

SAMAWAH, Iraq - About 200 supporters of anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Samawah, southern Iraq, march through downtown Samawah on Nov. 12 demanding the withdrawal of Japanese ground troops stationed in the city. Banners they hold read, ''No to Japan!'' and ''Get out of here, Self-Defense Forces!''

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GSDF 2nd contingent to Iraq disbands

SAPPORO, Japan - Col. Yuki Imaura, leader of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's second contingent to Iraq, reports to Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba and returns the unit's flag on Sept. 12. A ceremony was held at the GSDF base in Sapporo to formally disband the 540-member contingent, which recently returned to Japan after completing a three-month aid mission in Samawah, southern Iraq.

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(2)230 GSDF troops return to Japan from Iraq

ASAHIKAWA, Japan - A female Ground Self-Defense Force member meets relatives after returning to Asahikawa, Hokkaido, on May 24 with some 230 other Ground Self-Defense Force troops from a three-month reconstruction mission in Samawah, southern Iraq.

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GSDF unit head in Iraq returns to Japan to report

TOKYO, Japan - Col. Masahisa Sato, the logistics chief of the Japanese Ground-Self Defense Force (GSDF) detachment in Iraq, enters the Defense Agency in Tokyo on April 20 to report to the agency on the troop's activities in Samawah, southern Iraq.

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17 journalists shelter in GSDF's Samawah camp

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Photo taken April 9 shows one of 17 Japanese journalists who have taken refuge in the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) camp in Samawah, southern Iraq, after the kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq by militants.

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(3) Japanese troops face 1st attack in Iraq

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) contingent stands on guard near his camp outside the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on April 8, the day after bomb shells landed near the base.

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(1)Iraqi Shiites oppose CPA campaign to expand women's rights

SAMAWAH, Iraq - About 150 Iraqi Shiites take to the street to protest at campaigns by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to expand women's rights in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on April 1. Many women wearing traditional black dresses joined the rally.

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(2)Iraqi Shiites oppose CPA campaign to expand women's rights

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's vehicle is forced to stop in front of the office of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on April 1 because of a rally by about 150 Iraqi Shiites who oppose CPA-promoted campaigns to expand women's rights. GSDF members are in the city to provide humanitarian assistance in reconstructing the country.

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(2)Japanese GSDF troops in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force unit on an aid mission in Iraq speaks with his family members in Japan at his camp in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on April 1.

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(2)Last GSDF contingent heads to Iraq

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A vehicle of the last major Japanese Ground Self Defense Force contingent arrives at the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on a mission to help reconstruct Iraq.

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Pontoon bridge in Samawah collapses due to high river

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Photo taken March 25 shows a pontoon bridge in central Samawah, southern Iraq, that collapsed due to the swollen state of the Euphrates River.

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(2)Japanese troops begin repair on school buildings

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force unit posted in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah talks with students during his visit to a junior high school to check the extent of war damage to the school building on March 25.

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(3)Japanese troops begin repair on school buildings

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force unit posted in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah checks the state of war damage during a visit to a junior high school located near the city on March 25.

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(1)Eleven female GSDF members arrive in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - About 60 Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) members, including 11 women (shown), arrive at the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on March 21 to help with Iraqi reconstruction.

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(2)Eleven female GSDF members arrive in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - One of the 11 women of the 60-member Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) contingent, march in Samawah, southern Iraq, on March 21 with other troops after arriving there from Kuwait to help with Iraqi reconstruction.

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(3)Japan donates stationery to Iraqi school

KHIDR, Iraq - Iraqi police stand guard around an elementary school in the southern Iraqi city of Khidr on March 18 where Col. Koichiro Bansho, commander of Japanese noncombat troops stationed in Samawah, southern Iraq, visited to donate stationery to pupils.

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(4)Japan donates stationery to Iraqi school

KHIDR, Iraq - Pupils at an elementary school in the southern Iraqi city of Khidr look at a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force member folding paper as Japanese noncombat troops stationed in the Samawah, southern Iraq, visited Khidr to donate stationery to pupils.

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Water truck damaged in rear-end collision in Iraq

SAMAWAH, Iraq - This water truck donated by the Netherlands was damaged in a rear-end collision in the suburbs of Samawah, southern Iraq, on March 15.

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(3)GSDF unit head visits Samawah schools to take aid requests

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Children walk towards a Dutch soldier (L) and a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force member (R) in a suburban district of Samawah, southern Iraq, on March 15. GSDF members visited the area to check elementary schools and take requests for repairs.

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(2)Japan provides Iraq with water trucks

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A resident in Samawah rides in one of the water trucks Japan provided to Muthana Province, southern Iraq, on March 10.

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GSDF hires 16 Iraqis to guard Samawah camp

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Iraqis hired by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force deployed in Samawah, Iraq, stand guard with GSDF troops at its camp. Sixteen Iraqis from two local tribes were hired by Japan on a temporary basis following a demand by landlords in land-lease talks.

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(1)Japanese ground troops in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force contingent on a humanitarian mission in post-war Iraq looks at a local newspaper reporting on their activity on March 3.

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(2)Japanese troops enjoy food rations in Iraq

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the Japanese ground force involved in an aid mission in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah eats meat balls on March 2 during an event to show media a variety of food rations.

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(3)Japanese troops in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of the contingent of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops (L) and a Dutch soldier (R) stand on guard as Dutch Foreign Minister Bot van Buitenlandse visits the Japanese camp outside the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on Feb. 25.

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(1)Japanese troops in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A traffic sign indicating a 30-kilometer speed limit was put up Feb. 25 by Japanese troops stationed in Samawah along the southern Iraqi city's street frequently used by schoolchildren.

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(1)100 Japanese ground troops move to temporary camp

SAMAWAH, Iraq - About 100 Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force members moved to their temporary camp from the Dutch military's Camp Smitty outside the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on Feb. 25. They brought food, equipment and other goods with them to the camp, which will receive the main ground troops from Kuwait.

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(2)100 Japanese ground troops move to temporary camp

SAMAWAH, Iraq - About 100 Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force members moved to their temporary camp from the Dutch military's Camp Smitty outside the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on Feb. 25. They brought food, equipment and other goods with them to the camp, which will receive the main ground troops from Kuwait.

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Japanese troops in Samawah move into makeshift barracks

SAMAWAH, Iraq, Feb. 22 Kyodo - A member of an Iraqi reconstruction unit from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force stands on guard Feb. 22 as his colleagues move materials into a makeshift barracks being built outside the southern Iraqi city of Samawah.

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(1)Scenes in southern Iraqi city of Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A member of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force contingent stands on alert while his colleagues give an outdoor press conference on the outskirts of Samawah, Iraq.

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(5)Scenes in southern Iraqi city of Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - An Iraqi girl poses for a photograph as her mother washes dishes in a canal on the suburbs of Samawa in southern Iraq.

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(4)Scenes in southern Iraqi city of Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A photo of an Iraqi citizen posing with a member of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force contingent is on display along with other photos at a shop window in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah.

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(3)Scenes in southern Iraqi city of Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - Two armored vehicles carrying Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force noncombat troops drive past a morning sheep market in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah.

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Zakheim visits Japan's GSDF team in Samawah

SAMAWAH, Iraq - U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Dov Zakheim (L) speaks with Col. Masahisa Sato, head of a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) advance team, at a Dutch military base in Samawah, southern Iraq, on Feb. 19 after Zakheim arrived there. (Pool photo)

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Samawah landlords warn Japanese troops over lease dispute

SAMAWAH, Iraq - A man writes on a banner Feb. 18 in Samawah, Iraq, demanding Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force pay rent for land where the force is building its camp. A group of Iraqi landlords threatens to call the troops ''occupying forces'' if lease negotiations fail.