The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Tokyo

Japan's two largest parties failed to agree Tuesday on continuing a naval mission in the Indian Ocean, dealing a setback to the government which has pledged to support the US-led "war on terror".

With legislation allowing support for the "anti-terror" mission expiring Thursday, Japan's refueling on Monday of a Pakistani destroyer was likely to be the country's last contribution to the military effort for the time being. The suspension comes amid growing opposition to the "war on terror" across countries which are part of the coalition, which is battling a deadly insurgency by remnants of the extremist Taliban regime ousted in 2001. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda failed to reach a breakthrough in a meeting with opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, who has vowed to fight the legislation allowing Japan to provide fuel and other support to US-led forces in Afghanistan. "I asked for his party's cooperation regarding the new anti-terrorism bill and explained the situation, but as of today we did not reach any agreement," Fukuda told reporters after the meeting.