A draft outline of a bill to offer blanket relief to hepatitis C sufferers infected via tainted blood products was agreed to Friday by a ruling coalition task force and patients, paving the way to an overall settlement of damages suits filed since 2002.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2007/nn20071229a2a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='201'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Toshihiro Suzuki –

, the chief lawyer representing plaintiffs in a case against the government over hepatitis C infection through tainted blood products, smiles during a news conference with ruling coalition lawmakers at a Diet members' office compound Friday in Tokyo. KYODO PHOTO

Toshihiro Suzuki, the chief lawyer representing the plaintiffs, welcomed the move, stressing that the outline "clearly states the government's responsibility."