Two explosions heard near Japanese troops' camp in southern Iraq

TOKYO (AFP) Apr 29, 2004
Two explosions were heard early Thursday near the camp housing Japanese troops in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, a spokesman for the Defense Agency said, adding there were no injuries.

"At around 2:00 am on April 29, there were two explosions near the base in Samawa. No one was injured and there was no property damage either," said the spokesman. The agency has no further information, he said.

Japan, a close ally of the United States, has deployed 550 ground troops to Samawa in predominantly Shiite southern Iraq to conduct humanitarian work, including providing clean water and medical assistance and repairing schools.

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