Japan beefs up security

Saturday, 21 February 2004 12:00 AM

The Japanese yen stumbled to a ten-week low yesterday against the dollar after the Asian country stepped up its domestic security arrangements.

Japan is on the highest level of security alert since it backed the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

The National Police Agency declined to state whether there was intelligence of a particular or imminent terror threat.

The move comes as Japan presses ahead with sending troops to Iraq. The country dispatched a destroyer and an amphibious vessel for the Middle East on Friday.

Japan is to send 1,000 soldiers to Iraq, its largest military deployment since World War II.

On Friday, security was stepped up around Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's residence, the US Embassy, military bases and national and local assembly buildings as well as ports, railway stations and shopping malls.

On Tuesday, projectiles were reportedly fired at Japan's Defence Agency and two blasts were heard near the Agency.

Tags: