Japan troops to Mozambique

(First Edition)

Japan will send about 50 military personnel to Mozambique by late May to join UN peace-keeping operations in the southern African nation, the government said yesterday, Reuter reports from Tokyo. 'We decided this was an appropriate contribution for Japan to make, and is in line with the UN's strong expectations,' said Yohei Kono, chief cabinet secretary. It will be Tokyo's second UN peace-keeping operation. Last September, Japan sent about 600 troops to Cambodia after years of heated debate over whether this was allowed under the country's constitution.