Region | Iraq
Japan may end Iraq military mission in 2009
Japan may end its support mission in Iraq next year, partly because of objections from the opposition, according to media reports on Monday.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:09 May 26, 2008
Tokyo: Japan may end its support mission in Iraq next year, partly because of objections from the opposition, according to media reports on Monday.
Japan has about 210 air force personnel in Kuwait, from where they airlift supplies to Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.
"Thinking about the state of parliament, it is extremely difficult to extend" a special law which enabled the country to send troops to Iraq, the Asahi newspaper quoted ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) heavyweight Taku Yamasaki as saying.
The special law allowing the Iraq mission, despite Japan's constitution, is set to expire in July 2009.
The Tokyo newspaper quoted an unnamed executive of the LDP's Buddhist-backed junior partner, New Komeito, as saying it was time to think about withdrawal.
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