On the killing of a Japanese hostage in Iraq

It is extremely regrettable that Shosei Koda, taken hostage in Iraq by terrorists, was confirmed to have been murdered.

The savage group led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al- Zarqawi ... is believed to have executed Koda.

If Iraq fails to be democratized and reconstructed and becomes a bankrupt nation, it would become a stronghold of terrorists -- a situation that would pose a grave menace to the peace and security of the international community. This is the reason for the international community to extend assistance to Iraq for reconstruction without yielding to dirty acts of terrorism.

Japan, therefore, has to continue the Self Defense Forces' humanitarian and reconstruction mission in Iraq. It is essential for the SDF deployment to be extended beyond the Dec. 14 deadline. -- Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo,