Japan lauchnes new anti-terror plan

Sri Lanka Source Sunday 14th December, 2003

The Japanese government has announced a new anti-terror watch at its airports and harbors.

Crisis management officials will be dispatched to Narita and Kansai airports and 23 other main airports as well as about 120 main seaports across the nation.

Their work will be coordinated by a new crisis management office in the office of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the Japanese daily Yomiuri reported Sunday. It will include officials in the Justice, Finance and Construction and Transport ministries as well as the National Police Agency.

The new steps, to be implemented next month, follow concern that Japan's decision to send 600 support troops to Iraq makes the country into a potential terrorist target.

In another effort to tighten immigration controls, a security committee comprising port managers, police officers and customhouse officials also will be established at individual ports.