thr 003                                                               


Terrorism-Japan-Envoy     /POL/                                       


   Former Japanese FM heading for Saudi Arabia, Iran on special      


mission                                                               


Tokyo, Sept 30, IRNA -- Former Japanese foreign minister Masahiko     


Komura left here Sunday for Saudi Arabia and Iran as a special        


envoy of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to rally support for an     


international coalition against terrorism.                            


    The decision comes as the U.S. intensifies preparations for       


a threatened military strike on Afghanistan in view of its refusal    


to hand over Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect  


in the Sept 11 attacks on U.S. defense and financial centers.         


    Komura, during his diplomatic shuttle, is to hold meetings with   


top leaders of the two nations and deliver letters from Koizumi, the  


Japanese news agency Kyodo said quoting government officials.         


    Specifically, Komura intends to seek the views of Iranian         


officials with respect to Japan's plan to extend financial assistance 


via the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help Iran      


handle the expected massive influx of refugees from neighboring       


Afghanistan in the event of a U.S. military strike, the same officials


said.                                                                 


    Former prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto will also be visiting     


Egypt in early October to beef up support for the global              


anti-terrorism campaign, the Japanese government announced.           


AR/LS                                                                 


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::irna    09:31