Japan Extends Air Force Deployment In Iraq

Japan says its Air Force will keep transporting supplies to US led troops in Iraq until next July. The country sent about 600 ground troops to southern Iraq in 2004 to provide reconstruction and humanitarian aid, as part of its largest and riskiest overseas mission since World War II.Japanese Soldiers returned home in July but about 200 Air Force personnel based in Kuwait are still transporting supplies to coalition forces in Baghdad and northern Iraq. Japan's Cabinet has decided to extend the authority for the mission to the end of July. The country's constitution limits the role of its military to self defence only. Special laws that were needed to permit the operations in Iraq were due to expire this month but have been extended.