TOKYO, Jan 26: A truck transporting equipment intended for the Japanese army was attacked near Baghdad on Sunday and the Jordanian driver killed, a defence agency spokesman said.

The incident occurred in Ramadi, west of the Iraqi capital. The truck was transporting a pre-fabricated housing unit for an officer from Japan's Self-Defence Forces to be stationed in Baghdad, the spokesman said.

"It is not clear if the attack was specifically targeted at Japan as there was no sign on the truck or the container showing that the equipment belongs to Japan," he added.

Further information, including the identity of the driver, was not immediately available. News of the attack came as Japan agreed to send ground troops into Iraq in the country's first deployment to a combat zone since World War II.

Over the next two months, more than 500 soldiers will join an advance party of ground troops in the town of Samawa. The Japanese troops are to engage in non-combat operations, such as providing water and medical supplies, but their rules of engagement allow them to defend themselves if attacked.

Japan's ruling coalition agreed to the deployment despite deep divisions among the public over the issue. Renewed protests on Sunday in Tokyo showed popular opinion is still deeply divided on the issue, with 6,000 people rallying against sending the troops.-AFP