The Japanese government announced yesterday that Tokyo will provide US.2 million in aid to Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to relieve their burden from the ongoing US-led attacks in Iraq.

　　Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said US million will go to Jordan for food, water and other humanitarian needs, and the remaining US.2 million will finance food aid for the Palestinian Authority.

　　"We decided to provide the support from humanitarian considerations and to pro-mote stability in the Middle East," Kawaguchi said.

　　She said the aid package reflected Japan's hopes of fulfilling its responsibility "within the framework of the United Nations."

　　Japan has already promised US.03 million in aid to humanitarian organizations including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program. The package is in addition to that.

　　On Thursday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced his support for the US-led war on Iraq, promising help to refugees and assistance with postwar reconstruction in Iraq.

　　On Friday, a team of five Japanese doctors prepared to leave for Syria to help treat expected war-displaced refugees.

　　Yesterday, Koizumi told reporters that Iraq's postwar rehabilitation "should be carefully considered" in a way that allows "the international community to cooperate."