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Japan PM begs support of stalled Afghan naval mission |
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TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda pleaded for support Tuesday for a bill to resume a naval mission in the Indian Ocean but the legislation remained stalled in the opposition-controlled upper house of the legislature.
Japan's warships had refuelled vessels from countries in the U.S.-led coalition fighting in Afghanistan since 2001 but withdrew Nov. 1 after opposition parties raised concerns the operations did not have explicit support from the United Nations and possibly violated Japan's pacifist constitution.
The sudden retreat was a major embarrassment for the administration of Fukuda, who has been a staunch supporter of a continued presence for Japan in the region.
The government has submitted a bill that would allow the ships to be deployed again but in a more limited role. The lower house, which is controlled by Fukuda's party, passed the bill earlier this month.
"This is one of few missions Japan is engaged in, and I really want you to let us resume the mission," Fukuda told the upper house's foreign affairs and defence committee.
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Canadian minister rejects poll that suggests Afghan support for NATO plummets |
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The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Canada's international development minister took issue with a new poll Monday that suggests Afghans are increasingly critical of the war in their country.
Bev Oda, the minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency, dismissed the findings of the survey, which suggested support for NATO has plummeted the last year and the Taliban is growing in strength. |
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Suicide blast on convoy "welcomes" Gates to Kabul |
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By Kristin Roberts and Hamid Shalizi
KABUL (Reuters) - A Taliban suicide bomber rammed a car into a convoy of NATO forces close to the airport in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, during a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to assess the rising violence.
No casualties were reported among NATO troops in the morning rush hour blast on a road just outside Kabul's international airport, an alliance spokesman said. NATO said the blast wounded 22 Afghan civilians. |
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Karzai: Afghan military needs equipment |
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By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer
KHOST, Afghanistan - The Afghanistan military needs more trainers and equipment in order to gain control of the country's security, President Hamid Karzai and his defense chief told Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Tuesday.
Karzai said he was satisfied with the quality of training of the Afghan army, but he said he hoped that the U.S. and its NATO allies would expedite the delivery of air transportation and other assets, which could include planes and helicopters needed to fight al-Qaida and Taliban forces. |
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