The interim charge d'affairs, Qasim Abdulbaqi Shakir Al Rammah, visited foreign ministry officials Thursday morning for about an hour, but neither the embassy nor the government would disclose what was discussed.

Shakir told Jiji Press agency on his way to work before the meeting, however, that he had been unable to contact the Iraqi government since the Iraqi capital fell and declined to comment.

Foreign ministry official Masami Oishi said Japan's stance toward the embassy had not changed.

"At the beginning of the month, we stated that the Iraqi embassy exists and we have not decided to do anything to change that situation," she said. "When we decide what to do we will announce it."

Tokyo said on March 26 it had rejected a US request to close the embassy.

About 20 journalists were gathered outside the embassy, which continued to fly the Iraqi flag and which displayed posters of Iraqi children allegedly suffering from the effects depleted uranium shells.

Some 20 bags of shredded paper were also seen outside.

Mari Takenouchi, a secretary at the embassy, told AFP; "As far as I know, there has not been any special communications from Iraq."

"We have been swamped by phone calls, inquiring about our status. All I can say is nothing unusual is going on."

All 11 workers, including nine Iraqi staff, showed up for work Thursday, she said. There are 37 Iraqi nationals in Japan, she said.

hih-mis-rn/ja/mfc

SPACE.WIRE