This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7072485.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Japan ends Afghan naval mission | Japan ends Afghan naval mission |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Japan has ordered the withdrawal of its two ships supporting US-led operations in Afghanistan. | Japan has ordered the withdrawal of its two ships supporting US-led operations in Afghanistan. |
| The move follows the government's failure to agree a deal with the opposition to extend the mission beyond the end of its mandate on 1 November. | The move follows the government's failure to agree a deal with the opposition to extend the mission beyond the end of its mandate on 1 November. |
| However, the government of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has said it would try to pass new legislation to allow a more limited mission. | However, the government of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has said it would try to pass new legislation to allow a more limited mission. |
| Japan has refuelled coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since 2001. | Japan has refuelled coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since 2001. |
| "The government will make its utmost effort... to resume an important mission in the Indian Ocean," chief Cabinet spokesman Nobutaka Machimura said. | "The government will make its utmost effort... to resume an important mission in the Indian Ocean," chief Cabinet spokesman Nobutaka Machimura said. |
| The US ambassador to Japan, Thomas Schieffer, said a permanent withdrawal would send a very bad message to the international community and terrorists. | The US ambassador to Japan, Thomas Schieffer, said a permanent withdrawal would send a very bad message to the international community and terrorists. |
| Mr Fukuda is due to visit the US next month, his first overseas trip since taking office. | Mr Fukuda is due to visit the US next month, his first overseas trip since taking office. |
| Failed talks | Failed talks |
| Mr Fukuda held talks on Tuesday with opposition Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, who said he could only back an extension to the mission if it was part of a United Nations operation. | Mr Fukuda held talks on Tuesday with opposition Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, who said he could only back an extension to the mission if it was part of a United Nations operation. |
| The two men are due to meet again at the end of the week. | The two men are due to meet again at the end of the week. |
| The ships involved - a destroyer and a refueller, with 340 troops - are to head for Japan later on Thursday. They last refuelled a ship on Monday. | The ships involved - a destroyer and a refueller, with 340 troops - are to head for Japan later on Thursday. They last refuelled a ship on Monday. |
| Japan's mission has been dogged by allegations that Japan supplied far more fuel to US forces than officially recorded - encouraging speculation that Tokyo might have helped supply the US war in Iraq, not just its operations in Afghanistan. | Japan's mission has been dogged by allegations that Japan supplied far more fuel to US forces than officially recorded - encouraging speculation that Tokyo might have helped supply the US war in Iraq, not just its operations in Afghanistan. |
| Japan's constitution forbids it from fighting other nations, but the government has recently tried to revise it to allow for a more robust defence policy. | Japan's constitution forbids it from fighting other nations, but the government has recently tried to revise it to allow for a more robust defence policy. |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his country was "very appreciative of Japan's assistance, both economically and indirectly, as in the support to refuelling". | |
| But he added that the extension of the refuelling mission was a bilateral issue between the US and Japan. |