Explosion heard near Japanese camp in southern Iraq
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-13 10:03

An explosion was heard near the Japanese camp in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah but no troops were injured, an official at Japan's Defense Agency said Tuesday.

The blast was heard Monday evening, according to the official who declined to be named citing agency policy.

It is highly possible that a shell was launched from far away and landed outside the camp, she said, adding that the agency was investigating.

The attack followed an incident last Wednesday, in which an explosion was heard and a trace of a landed shell was found outside the camp, the official said.

Japan has deployed about 600 troops to Samawah since early 2004 in Tokyo's largest military mission since the end of World War II. The strictly non-combat troops are limited to purifying water and other aid tasks.

Last week, Japan's Cabinet extended its troop deployment in Iraq for one year, defying rising domestic opposition to the mission.