U.S. asks Japan for support

U.S. asks Japan for support

JAPAN: The United States has asked Japan to send naval ships, including a state-of-the-art Aegis destroyer, to back the US-led military campaign in retaliation for last month's terrorist attacks, a daily said Saturday.

The request was made through informal talks of working-level officials while Japan was in the process of passing a law to allow itself to give logistical, non-combat support to the so- called war on terrorism, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

There have been strong objections to the deployment of an Aegis destroyer as it could contravene Japan's constitutional dictum against the use of force in settling international disputes. -- AFP