in Arabian Sea Tokyo, Oct 21, SPA -- Japan's ruling party approved a plan toextend by six months Tokyo's naval mission providinglogistical support to the U.S.-led coalition inAfghanistan, an official said Thursday. The extended mission, which involves refueling andsupplying coalition warships in the region, was approved bythe Liberal Democratic Party's policy deliberationcommission and several subgroups, party spokesman KeijiKonishi said. Japan launched the operation in November 2001 and hasextended its half-year mandate six times since. The currentauthority expires Nov. 1. The LDP's highest decision-making body was due torubber-stamp the plan on Friday, to be followed by approvalfrom Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet nextTuesday. The non-combat mission by the Japanese navy in the ArabianSea was the first in a series of decisions by Koizumi thathave tested the limits of the nation's pacifistconstitution since he took office in April 2001. Koizumi has also sent about 1,000 Japanese militarypersonnel to Iraq and surrounding areas for humanitarianprojects.--SPA1355 Local Time 1055 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/212409