TOKYO, Nov. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The first unit of the fourth contingent of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops for aid missions in Iraq left Japan on Saturday night.

    The roughly 200-strong group, mostly from the GSDF 6th Divisionbased in Higashine, northern Yamagata Prefecture, departed on a charter flight from Sendai Airport in neighboring Miyagi Prefecture, Kyodo News reported.

    They fly first to Kuwait for a week of training before enteringthe southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where more than 500 troops arebased.

    They will be followed by the second and third batches of troops,totaling around 300, leaving Japan later this month at weekly intervals.

    The unit is prepared to perform humanitarian duties in Iraq through next February assuming that the Japanese government will extend the deployment beyond Dec. 14, when their current mission expires.

    Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has not yet clearly said whether the mission will be extended although he has indicated Japan will do so.

    Opposition parties are urging the government not to prolong themission ,arguing that the deteriorating security situation would threaten their lives and the area is becoming a combat zone. Enditem