Japan's cabinet voted on Wednesday to dispatch three warships to provide non-combat support in the US-led war on terrorism, despite opposition to any Japanese attempt to expand its military role.
The ships - two destroyers and a supply vessel - will leave the southern port of Sasebo on Friday and head for the Indian Ocean to gather intelligence for the us-led forces in Afghanistan, said Tsutomu Himeno, deputy spokesman for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Bureau Report