Problems with optional parameters while using REST endpoint.

Hello,

One of my service have optional elements specified. When I use SOAP and
send xml request with the optional parameter missing, it works fine. But
when I do a GET request to the REST endpoint it complains about the missing
optional parameter. If I include the optional parameter in the GET request,
the service works fine.

Is this a genuine limitation of Axis2. If not, what should I do to fix it?

Snippets,

*wsdl*

<xs:element name="TestRequest">
    <xs:complexType>
    <xs:sequence>
        <xs:element name="id" type="xs:string"/>
        <xs:element minOccurs="0" name="item" type="xs:string"/>
    </xs:sequence>
    </xs:complexType>
</xs:element>

*Case 1*

http://localhost/servlet/services/TestService/test?id=123

*Error *:

<soapenv:Fault>
   <faultcode/>
   <faultstring>Required element item defined in the schema can not be
found in the request; nested exception is:
org.apache.axis2.AxisFault: Required element item defined in the schema can
not be found in the request
    </faultstring>
    <detail/>
</soapenv:Fault>

*Case 2*

http://localhost/servlet/services/TestService/test?id=123&item=boombox

*Gives expected results*.

Thanks,
Shiv