Iraqi minister hopes for new government by late March

The Iraqi foreign minister on Wednesday told his Japanese counterpart Iraq will "hopefully" form a new government by the end of March, Foreign Ministry officials said. The comment came during a 15-minute phone conversation between Hoshyar Zebari and Taro Aso Wednesday afternoon, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

Photo: Iraqi minister hopes for new government by late March

The two ministers did not touch on pullout plans by Japan 's ground troops in Iraq , the official said. News reports have said Japan , which has 600 non-combat troops in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah , may withdraw from Iraq by May.

Defense and Foreign Ministry officials have so far declined to confirm those reports. Following the Dec. 15 election, Iraq has yet to launch a government because of sharp differences among the country's Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish political parties. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani conveyed a similar message to Japan 's ambassador to Iraq , Toshiro Suzuki, on Sunday in Baghdad , reports the AP.

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