KEY POINTS:
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces the toughest battle of his political life after staking his job on extending Japan's naval mission in support of United States-led operations in Afghanistan.
Abe, who took office a year ago vowing to boost Japan's global security profile, said he would not cling to his job if he could not extend the mission beyond a November 1 expiry.
Opposition parties, which won control of Parliament's Upper House in a July election, are against the mission and can delay enactment of a bill to extend it. Abe indicated he could resign if the mission were to end.
- Reuters
