TOKYO, May 15, SPA -- The Japanese House of Representatives is set to approve today a bill to extend by two years the deployment of Japanese air troops for Iraqi reconstruction with a majority endorsement by lawmakers of the governing Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito party, reported the Japanese news agency KYODO.. The lower house is expected to vote down the opposition Democratic Party of Japan's bill aimed at terminating the deployment of the Air Self-Defense Force troops. In July 2003, Japanese lawmakers enacted the special measures law to support Iraqi reconstruction, valid for four years. Ahead of its expiration in July this year, the government had introduced a bill to amend the special measures law to allow for a two-year extension after judging multilateral support continue for the time being. There have been requests for an extension by the United Nations, U.S.-led multinational forces and Iraq and continuing ASDF activities is necessary to contribute to peace in the international community, government officials argued in a lower-house panel. On the extension by two years, the government said it is necessary to allocate a period of some length in order to continue airlifting support continuously and in a stable manner.-- SPA www.spa.gov.sa/449861