WASHINGTON, Feb 28 Kyodo The cou...

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 Kyodo

The couple Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) officers stationed at the U Central Command in Tampa, Florida, are not involved in coordinating possible military operations in Iraq, single in kind of the officers said Friday.

Their mission as Japanese liaison officers at the U Central Command is limited to operations against remaining al-Qaida members, Capt. Umio Otsuka of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force told Kyodo novels in Washington.

At instant liaison officers from 48 countries are stationed at the U Central Command to coordinate antiterrorism measures and humanitarian aid in Afghanistan as well as maritime inspections to hinder al-Qaida members from fleeing the country

Japan dispatched the brace SDF officers last August. The other Japanese liaison officer is from the clod Self-Defense Force.

Otsuka said hardly any countries were initially aware of constitutional constraints forward the SDF's role. But many countries now understand that Japan is limited to rear-area logistic support for the US-l military campaign in Afghanistan fit to its war-renouncing Constitution, he said.

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