The government and ruling coalition have agreed to impose a two-year limit on planned legislation to enable the Self-Defense Forces to assist a U.S.-led operation against terrorism.

The accord came Monday evening as secretaries general and policy affairs chiefs of the three ruling parties -- the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party -- gave their approval to a government-proposed guideline for the legislation that would substantially expand the scope of SDF activities overseas, coalition officials said.

The planned legislation is specifically aimed at providing logistic support to U.S. and multinational forces in anticipated retaliation against Osama bin Laden and his supporters, the alleged culprits behind the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

The guideline's time-limit clause, which has been added in consideration of New Komeito, will be reviewed by the Diet after two years and can be extended for another two years if necessary.

The guideline, which will serve as a backbone in drafting the new legislation, would allow for sending the SDF to territories of other countries if those governments approve of the dispatch.

It would also allow SDF personnel to use weapons not only to protect themselves and other SDF members but also to protect those "under their care," such as refugees and wounded members of the U.S. and multinational forces.

The government believes the new rule on the use of arms is necessary since the SDF could face dangerous situations in the event of U.S. strikes, such as terrorists hiding among refugees or firing on logistic-support bases.

The guideline calls for allowing the SDF to engage in search-and-rescue activities for the U.S.-led forces.

In addition, it would allow the government to dispatch SDF troops by reporting to the Diet, rather than seeking Diet approval.

The guideline says SDF operations should be limited to nonbattlefield areas. While SDF personnel would be allowed to "transport" weapons and ammunition, they would be prohibited from "providing" them, it says.

The government and ruling bloc officials also agreed to revise the SDF Law to allow the SDF to guard its facilities and U.S. bases in Japan.

The Cabinet hopes to submit the bill Friday and wants to see the legislation enacted during the current extraordinary Diet session.

Approval expected

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced confidence Tuesday that Japan can win Chinese and South Korean approval of its plan to provide rear-area noncombat military support to an expected U.S. antiterrorism operation.

"We have been paying attention to responses from China and South Korea, and have explained (Japan's plans) in an appropriate manner," Koizumi told a House of Councilors plenary session.

Koizumi was responding to an accusation by Giichi Tsunoda of the Democratic Party of Japan that the government has not paid enough attention to Japan's Asian neighbors with regard to its plan to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to assist any retaliatory action for the Sept. 11 attack on the United States.

China and South Korea, victims of Japanese aggression before and during World War II, are generally sensitive toward any overseas SDF dispatch.