Japan's defense chief said Friday a fact-finding team indicated conditions are "rather stable" in southern Iraq, where the Japanese government is preparing to send ground troops to help with reconstruction.

Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba spoke after receiving a preliminary report from members of the latest in a series of teams dispatched to Iraq to determine where and when it might be safe for Japan to contribute military personnel for non-combat duties.

Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was a firm supporter of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and has emphasized Japan has a responsibility to help rebuild the country. But he has hesitated to put troops on the group as near-daily attacks on coalition forces have shaken public support for the mission.

His defense chief's comments suggested the government may be satisfied with security conditions in a sector near the southern city of Samawah that Japan has been considering for a deployment that will reportedly involve more than 1,000 soldiers from the nation's Ground Self-Defense Force.

"My impression was that the security conditions in southern Iraq are rather stable compared to other regions," Ishiba said.

The contents of the report have not been made public. But Japanese national media reported that Koizumi's Cabinet may give its approval as early as next week for an operation in which ground troops would arrive in Iraq early next year.

Military transport aircraft may be dispatched even sooner for a safer mission involving making supply runs into Iraq from a neighboring country such as Kuwait.

Ishiba said that was "one option" under consideration.

Parliament approved the deployment of ground troops in July, but only on condition that they serve in "non-combat areas," which Koizumi's opponents argue don't exist in Iraq.

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