Japan may cut support of Afghan mission

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Source: Associated Press

Japan would scale back its support of the U.S. in Afghanistan by ending naval assistance to vessels involved in ground missions there under a ruling party proposal that officials predicted Sunday would gain parliament's approval.

Since 2001, Japan's navy has been providing fuel for coalition warships under an anti-terrorism law that has been extended three times. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has strongly pushed for another extension to the mission, which expires on Nov. 1.

However, Fukuda has been forced to make concessions because of strong resistance from the opposition bloc, which took control of parliament's upper chamber following a massive electoral defeat for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in July.

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The Democrats are critical of the mission because they say the U.S.-led Afghan campaign has not been properly sanctioned by the United Nations. They also say the mission violates the pacifist constitution.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071007/ap_on_re_as/japan_us_afghanistan