950825

Japan to send

peacekeeping

troops to

Golan Heights

TOKYO: Japan's ruling coalition decided on Friday to send peacekeeping troops to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in February following year-long debates over the controversial dispatch.

The decision came after the socialists led by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama abandoned their earlier position and approved the dispatch in a bid to maintain the fragile 14-month-old ruling coalition.

"We may have to send trops when we consider international voice over the issue," a senior official of the Social Democratic Party said following a meeting with other coalition leaders.

The government will officially announce the dispatch as early as August 29, government sources said, adding that the government will send a fact-finding mission in October.-APP/AFP