Hong Kong, April 10: Several Asian governments have welcomed the fall of Baghdad and made pledges of aid for post-war Iraq, but the overall mood was of cautious optimism. "The war is still going on. We wish that the people of Iraq will drop their guns and walk on the path to peace," Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters.
Fukuda did not specify what Tokyo would do to help rebuild Iraq, but he said that "as the number-two economy of the world, (Japan) should do what it can."


The Japanese foreign ministry announced yesterday that Japan would donate up to 100 million dollars to international organisations in response to the united nations appeal for immediate humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people.
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, pronouncing the Iraq war effectively over, pledged to send 500 peacekeepers to Baghdad and to extend humanitarian help to a nation emerging from a "dictatorship".
"We will send a government team of 500 persons. It is our contribution to keep the peace in Iraq and rescue them from a humanitarian crisis," she said.
Australia's leaders, who have contributed a small military force to the us-led invasion, are also now tasked with defining their country's role in Iraq.
"There are difficulties ahead, the first difficulty is in effect to complete the war," defense minister Robert Hill said.
Iraq's embassies in China, Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia and Vietnam remained open today, all saying they were awaiting further instructions from Baghdad. Bureau Report