Tokyo, Aug 24, SPA -- Unidentified assailants fired a shell near Japan's base in southern Iraq on Tuesday, the third attackto rattle Japanese troops in as many days amid signs ofdeteriorating security in the region, the government said. No injuries or damage were sustained in the explosionoutside the Japanese camp in the Iraqi city of Samawahearly Tuesday, Chief Cabinet spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda toldreporters. The government was investigating the attack, said Hosoda. Some 500 Japanese soldiers are based in Samawah, part of atotal deployment of 1,000 military personnel on a noncombatmission to purify water and repair infrastructure.--SPA1241 Local Time 0941 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/194613