Tokyo, March 11, SPA -- Japan may extend its humanitarian mission inIraq beyond a reported May deadline because of the deteriorating security and political crisis there, a news report said Saturday. Although the government has not announced when, or if, itwill end its 600-strong humanitarian mission in thesouthern city of Samawah, earlier media reports suggestedJapanese troops may start to pull out as early as March andcomplete the process by late May. Sankei newspaper said Saturday that Tokyo plans to dropthe May withdrawal deadline, citing unnamed governmentsources. The report did not suggest an alternative date forit to complete the process.--SPA 11 43 Local Time 08 43 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/338155