Japan ditches War of Terror

Japan will withdraw naval refuelling ships from a mission in the Indian ocean after the government failed to secure opposition support to extend the operation.

North Asia correspondent Shane McLeod reports from Tokyo that Japan's Self Defence Force has been supporting multinational forces in Afghanistan by refuelling naval ships in the Indian Ocean.

Special legislation to allow the mission to take place expires today and the government hasn't been able to win opposition support to extend it.

Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda says he still hopes the mission will resume, with more talks scheduled with the opposition leader tomorrow.

With a majority vote in the upper house of parliament, the Opposition is pushing for an early election, arguing that the refuelling mission does not have a UN mandate. Link