TOKYO, Dec. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan plans to train 10 Iraqi election officials in Japan in late December ahead of the January 30 national elections in Iraq, Japanese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

    The officials to be trained will be mainly from the election board of the southern Iraqi province of Muthana and the board's supervisory body in Baghdad, according to the ministry.

    Samawah is the capital of Muthana. Japanese ground troops are stationed in the city on an aid mission.

    Official campaigns by political parties for the national and provincial assembly elections scheduled Jan. 30 will begin on Wednesday.

    Last week, Japan extended its troop deployment for the aid mission in Iraq by one year to December 14 next year. Enditem