Asia vows support for Iraq

HONG KONG — Several Asian governments welcomed yesterday the fall of Baghdad and made pledges of aid for post-war Iraq, but the overall mood was one of cautious optimism.

Some countries expressed concern about the whereabouts of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the lack of formal acknowledgement of defeat from his regime.

"The war is still going on," Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters. "We wish that the people of Iraq will drop their guns and walk on the path to peace."

Fukuda did not specify what Tokyo would do to help rebuild Iraq, but he said that "as the No. 2 economy of the world, (Japan) should do what it can."

The Japanese foreign ministry announced yesterday that Japan would donate up to $100 million to international organizations in response to the United Nations appeal for immediate humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people.

President Arroyo, pronouncing the Iraq war effectively over, pledged yesterday to send 500 peacekeepers and relief workers to Baghdad to help a nation emerging from a "despotic" regime.

"The war is over in Iraq," Mrs. Arroyo said on dwIZ radio, a day after the US-led coalition took control of Baghdad.

"We will send a government team of 500 persons. It is our contribution to keep the peace in Iraq and rescue them from a humanitarian crisis," the President said.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said yesterday the Philippines has dispatched an advance survey team to the US Central Command headquarters in Qatar last Sunday to coordinate the activities of the Filipino mission.

"This 500-member team will essentially be a humanitarian mission," he said on GMA television. "They could include doctors, nurses, engineers, as well as soldiers who would perform civic action and policemen who would perform peacekeeping (duties)." — With AFP, Mike Frialde, Pia Lee-Brago. Paolo Romero