"What we must do is to offer humanitarian aid. In southern Iraq, building infrastructure had been long delayed under the Hussein government," Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba said on a program by Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK). "In a way, people (in the region) had been left behind."

Japanese Self Defense Forces troops are likely to be sent to the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, which Tokyo considers relatively stable after studying a report submitted by a team of government investigators on the security situation there.

"Throughout Iraq, Samawa has the worst infrastructure and the condition of school buildings is very poor," Ishiba said.

Although the defense chief declined to say when Tokyo would send troops -- a move approved by parliament in July -- he stressed the need, repeatedly voiced by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

Local media have said the cabinet is expected on Tuesday to approve a basic plan to send soldiers but it will not include details such as timing.

Last week, Japan's top-selling Yomiuri Shimbun said Koizumi had approved the dispatch of around 1,100 personnel and an advance unit of air force troops would be sent before the end of the year.

Even with the basic plan approved, a senior defense agency official told Kyodo News Sunday that "a reasonable amount of time" would be needed before the troops go.

Even if Japan eventually decides not to send ground troops, Ishiba said that would not mean Tokyo was shying away from its commitment.

"The dispatch of ground troops is necessary to conduct humanitarian aid. At the same time, we also have air force and marines. Even if the government judges that ground troops will not be able to carry out the mission, then we will appropriately decide what Japan can do," Ishiba said.

The government is prohibited from sending troops to combat zones as Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, drawn up by the United States, bans the use of Japanese force as a means of settling international disputes.

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