TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) – Japan may end its supply support mission for U.S.-led forces in Iraq next year, partly because of objections from the powerful 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.
It withdrew its ground troops — sent to southern Iraq as a gesture of support to Tokyo’s biggest ally, the United States — in 2006.
“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 pacifist constitution is set to expire in July 2009.
