Japan sends Iraq judo equipment.(Sports News).

TOKYO, April 17 (UPI) -- Japan has sent Iraq $91,000 worth of judo and soccer equipment as part of its humanitarian assistance package, the Tokyo government said Saturday.

At an international donor's conference in Madrid last fall, the Japanese pledged $5 billion towards Iraq's reconstruction. A statement with details of the package was released just as three Japanese hostages taken by Islamic fundamentalist militia were released in Baghdad.

As part of Tokyo's commitment, 1,000 Japanese troops are in Iraq providing exclusively humanitarian assistance, the statement said.

The aid package includes $50,000 in judo equipment, and $41,000 in soccer equipment. A further $10,000 was used to cover expenses for the Iraq national soccer team traveling to Japan for a friendly match with the Japan's national team.

Source Citation:"Japan sends Iraq judo equipment." UPI NewsTrack (April 17, 2004): NA. InfoTrac Criminal Justice eCollection. Gale. BROWARD COUNTY LIBRARY. 25 Sept. 2009
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