Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Japan announces end of air mission in Iraq
By MARI YAMAGUCHI,Associated Press Writer AP - 2 hours 43 minutes ago
TOKYO - Japan announced Friday it would end its airlift operations in Iraq by the end of the year, citing security improvements and moves toward democracy in Iraq.
The largely formal order to end the nation's four-year participation in Iraq came at a government national security council meeting, and had been expected for months. Prime Minister Taro Aso said the mission had achieved its goal.
"Iraq has demonstrated a steady effort to install a democratic government and the country's security has improved while the Iraqi people are now making their own effort to rebuild their country" Aso said in a statement.
The non-combative mission has tested the limits of Japan's pacifist constitution and divided the public.
Aso said Japan will continue economic aid and technology support to Iraq. He cited a similar moves by other countries ahead of the expiration at the end of the year of the U.N. Security Council resolution that sets the legal basis for U.S. troops in Iraq. Iraq is also reviewing multinational forces' activities there.
Japan has airlifted equipment and troops since 2006 from Kuwait to Iraq, including Baghdad, in support of the U.S.-led forces.
Japan deployed about 600 army troops to the southern city of Samawah on a humanitarian mission from 2004, but that ended in 2006. The airlift mission in Iraq began in 2006.
Japan is debating whether to continue its anti-terrorism maritime mission in the Indian Ocean, which expires in December. The refueling mission began in 2001 to support U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan. Japan had to suspend it late last year after the opposition blocked its extension in parliament.
The Iraq and Afghan missions have divided public opinion in Japan, where critics oppose them as a violation of the country's pacifist constitution, written in 1947 by the U.S., which bans Japan from engaging in warfare.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Army official: Mumbai operations almost overAP - 31 minutes ago
Pakistan, India ties chill after attacksAP - 35 minutes ago
StanChart says 2 Asia consumer bank execs to leaveReuters - 41 minutes ago
Thai Muslims caught up in political standoffAP - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
SKorean train makes last trip to NorthAP - 1 hour 13 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
US clears Bank of America deal for Merrill Lynch
US president's mother 'doing very well' in hospital: Laura Bush
Love handles increase death risk: study
Obama vows 'help is on the way' for the economy
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular