Japanese forces start leaving Iraq base

SAMAWA, Iraq, June 25 (Reuters) Transport trucks carrying armoured vehicles left the Japanese military base in southern Iraq today in one of the first signs that Japan has begun its promised troop pullout.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced last Tuesday that Japan would withdraw its roughly 550 soldiers, engaged in reconstruction and humanitarian work, from their base in Samawa in the southern province of Muthanna.

Reuters journalists saw at least 15 transporters leave the base carrying armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles. At least one Japanese armoured vehicle also drove out of the base under its own power, apparently escorting the convoy.

There was no immediate comment from Japanese officials but a spokesman for the British-led force policing southern Iraq said there would be such withdrawals from the Samawa base.

''You can expect to see the movement of equipment'' in the coming weeks, British Major Sebastian Muntz said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday his forces would take over security from July in Muthanna, where the British oversee a multinational contingent that includes Japanese and Australian troops.

''It will be some time before the camp is in a condition to be handed over to the Iraqis,'' Muntz said.

The pullout of the troops ends the Japanese military's riskiest and most ambitious overseas mission since World War Two. No Japanese soldiers have been killed or wounded in Iraq.

Japan has said its withdrawal from Samawa would be coordinated with Britain and Australia, whose troops provide security for the Japanese soldiers. Japan's Kyodo news agency said the process could be completed by the end of July.

REUTERS SY HT1445