Koizumi told his plan to US President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac in bilateral meetings ahead of the G8 summit on Sea Island, a resort in the southern US state of Georgia.

The leaders of the G8, which also includes Canada, Germany, Italy and Russia, are here for their annual summit through Thursday.

"His idea is to help the reconstruction of Iraq through a personnel dispatch of the Self Defence Forces ... and financial aid," said Jiro Okuyama, assistant press secretary at the foreign ministry.

"There was an intention made clear by the prime minister today that he would like to continue to provide SDF personnel... in a manner that they will be welcomed by the Iraqi people in accordance with the UN resolution."

Koizumi has sent more than 500 Japanese soldiers to the Shiite city of Samawa, some 270 kilometers (170 miles) south of Baghdad, on a humanitarian aid mission to help rebuild war-ravaged schools, provide clean water and offer medical assistance.

It was still uncertain what role the Japanese troops would play in the coming weeks and months as power is transferred in Iraq from occupation forces at the end of this month.

Japan's law allows the deployment, its first military mission in a combat zone since World War II, for 12 months ending December 14.

Asked if the Japanese troop would eventually join US-led multinational peace-keeping forces, Okuyama said nothing had been decided.

"We need a discussion and decision inside the Japanese government," he said.

WAR.WIRE