The Japanese government is considering to provide more than US$5 billion in aid for post-war Iraqi rebuilding, said a leading Japanese newspaper Wednesday.

The money would be granted from 2004 to 2007. But the actual amount has not been decided because the Foreign Ministry insists on giving US$2 billion, while the Finance Ministry puts it at US$1 billion, the Mainichi Shimbun quoted informed sources as saying.

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Amitage told Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato in September that Washington hoped Japan would make financial contribution in billions, said the daily.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is expected to discuss the issue with US President George W. Bush in their talks next week in Tokyo.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2003)