"We are considering sending government officials to Iraq to take part in procedures in establishing Iraq's interim administration," a foreign ministry official said.

"But we are yet to be on the stage to announce further details such as the number of personnel or timing of their departure," the official said.

Kyodo News said Tokyo now planned to send four or five bureaucrats from the Foreign Ministry, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry.

Private-sector personnel may also take part in the mission to join the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), a unit of the US Defence Department, Kyodo said, quoting government sources.

The Japanese officials to be sent are expected to work in ORHA's departments dealing with humanitarian aid, reconstruction and civil administration, but not security, the sources said.

Tokyo also hopes these officials will help it gather information on such issues of interest as oil-related projects and ways to deal with Iraqi sovereign debt, they said.

Japan has some 600 billion yen (five billion dollars) in outstanding loans to Iraq, making it the second largest non-Arab lender following Russia.

It will select the individuals to take part in ORHA after seeing how international discussions on the postwar Iraqi administration's framework and structure evolve, the sources said.

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi held telephone talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell late Tuesday, and agreed to cooperate in providing support for postwar Iraq, a ministry official said.

"The two sides agreed to closely cooperate and coordinate over political procedures, humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance for postwar Iraq," the official said.

"Our minister told Secretary Powell that our country wants to play an active role in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Iraq," the official said.

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