Japan extends Iraq air force support for 2 years
Tokyo,
Mar
30:
Japan's
cabinet
today
approved
extending
a
law
that
allows
its
air
force
to
fly
support
missions
to
Iraq
for
another
two
years.
Foreign
Minister
Taro
Aso
told
a
cabinet
meeting
that
the
law,
which
is
set
to
expire
in
July,
should
be
extended
because
of
the
current
situation
in
Iraq.
''To
continue
the
supply
airlift
in
a
stable
way,
I
believe
a
two-year
extension
is
essential,''
he
was
quoted
as
saying
in
a
government
statement.
The
legislation
now
goes
to
parliament
where
it
is
expected
to
pass,
given
the
ruling
coalition's
majority.
Japan
withdrew
its
600
ground
troops
from
Iraq
last
year
after
a
non-combat
mission
lasting
more
than
two
years.
About
200
air
force
personnel
have
remained
in
Kuwait,
from
where
they
airlift
supplies
to
the
US
military
in
Iraq.
The
troop
dispatch,
which
was
welcomed
by
the
United
States,
Tokyo's
closest
security
ally,
stretched
the
limits
of
Japan's
pacifist
constitution
and
was
opposed
by
many
voters,
although
approval
rose
after
the
soldiers
came
home
without
having
fired
a
shot
or
suffered
any
casualties.
Reuters