Tokyo, Nov 25, SPA -- Iraq's foreign minister urged Japan on Fridayto extend its soon-to expire troop dispatch in support ofU.S.-led reconstruction efforts, saying pulling out thetroops now would send "the wrong message" to insurgents. "Because of the sensitivity of the timing and thecritical stage we are going through, it is very importantfor this force to remain committed," Hohshyar Zebari saidat a news conference in Tokyo. "Any premature withdrawalwill send the wrong message." Japan has deployed about 600 non-combat troops to thesouthern Iraqi city of Samawah to purify water and rebuildschools. The mission expires Dec. 14, but Tokyo hasn'tdecided whether to renew it. Zebari, on an international tour with stops in Russia andFrance, asked for Japan's continued troop support inseparate meetings Friday with Prime Minister JunichiroKoizumi and Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga. Nukaga said Japan is "proud" of the work its forces havedone but gave no commitment on an extension, while Zebarisaid Koizumi gave a "clear commitment" to continuesupport for the democratization process in Iraq.--SPA1459 Local Time 1159 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/305336