Japan OKs Iraq Troop Extension

TOKYO – Japan's ruling party approved a plan Thursday to extend the country's military deployment in Iraq for one year, Kyodo News agency reported.

The plan was set to be approved later in the day by the Cabinet after the government gets the go-ahead from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's coalition partner, the New Komei Party.

Japan has 600 troops in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. The non-combat soldiers are purifying water, rebuilding schools and performing other humanitarian tasks.