TOKYO - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has warned Japan its troops face unknown dangers in Iraq in an interview with Japanese media ahead of his visit here for a regional summit.

"You are going into a situation where you don't know what is going to happen," Abdullah was quoted as saying by Kyodo News agency Tuesday.

"The situation in Iraq at the moment is not very predictable. The situation is so volatile. Opposition to the US presence in Iraq is very strong...it's a pity that the war has been won but not the peace," Abdullah said according to Kyodo .

The premier gave the interview to Japanese media in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his trip to Japan to attend a two-day summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) from Thursday, Kyodo said.

Different situation

His comments came as the Japanese cabinet formally approved a basic plan to send up to 600 military personnel to Iraq on a humanitarian mission that could last up to one year.

Abdullah, who was sworn in as Dr Mahathir Mohamad's successor on October 31 echoed his predecessor in calling for a United Nations role in Iraq.

"If the United Nations were to be there, perhaps the situation would be different. The UN would be seen as more neutral," Abdullah said.

He added that more nations would have come forward to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq if the UN were involved, according to Kyodo. - AFP