TOKYO, Dec. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Secret agents of toppled former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein murdered two Japanese diplomats in an attack on Nov. 29, Kyodo News Friday quoted Iraqi interim government Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari as saying.

    Investigations by the United States and Iraq showed there is little doubt the attack was the work of the Mukhabarat secret service, said Zebari in an interview with Kyodo News in Iraq on Thursday.

    Zebari indicated the two Japanese diplomats became the targets because Japan has been cooperative with the United States.

    Commenting on Zebari's remarks, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was quoted by Kyodo News as saying,"Various people are targeted, not only Japanese. It was a cruel and unforgivable act."

    Al-Qaida-linked terror groups have purportedly warned to attack Japanese interests and Tokyo, once Japan sends troops to Iraq.

    Zebari said he believes the killing of two South Korean technicians on the same highway and the killing of seven Spanish intelligence agents south of Baghdad over the weekend were also conducted by the Mukhabarat.

    Two Japanese diplomats and their Iraqi driver were shot dead last Saturday on the way to the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit, a stronghold of Saddam. Japanese police Thursday displayed a photo of the bullet-riddled vehicle with most of the around 30 shot holes were on the left side.

    The shooting, combined with incessant attacks on US and other foreign targets, deterred Koizumi's attempt to send the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq as early as possible. Enditem