The Diet on Friday approved a plan to deploy the Self-Defense Forces, allowing Japan to lend logistic support to U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan.
The SDF plan was approved at a plenary session of the House of Councilors with the support of the ruling parties -- the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party -- and a majority of the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition force.
However, two DPJ members, including former TV celebrity Kyosen Ohashi, voted against the plan, while another five abstained from voting despite the party's decision to support it.
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