The ruling coalition Wednesday submitted to a divided Diet a special bill to enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue providing logistic support in the Indian Ocean for U.S.-led antiterror operations in and around Afghanistan.
The Cabinet-approved special antiterrorism bill, which Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda wants passed in the current extraordinary Diet session, was first OK'd by the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition earlier in the day.
"I hope the new law will be enacted as soon as possible because this mission is in cooperation with the international community," Fukuda told reporters after the Cabinet approved the bill.