Koizumi presses ahead with Iraq troops plan

The premier stepped up his calls not to retreat in the face of terrorism from helping to rebuild Iraq, as Japan mourned its first casualties since the US-led war began on March 20.

Seven Spanish intelligence agents, a Colombian, two Koreans and two American soldiers also died in a series of attacks over the weekend in what US commanders acknowledged was a deliberate attempt to intimidate America's allies.

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"There are even attacks against Iraqi people," Koizumi told reporters. "They are indiscriminate."

The perpetrators "don't want to allow Iraq to be rebuilt and want to cause chaos," Koizumi said. "We cannot flinch, or the whole world will be affected."