Defense-related panels within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved two draft bills Wednesday that would allow Japan to provide noncombat support for any U.S. retaliation over the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and protect U.S. bases here.

The drafts are expected to be approved by the LDP's executive council today and by the Cabinet on Friday with the aim of getting them through the Diet before the end of this month.

One of the bills would establish a special law, effective for two years, allowing the Self-Defense Forces to provide rear-area support for any U.S. retaliation for the terrorist attacks.

It would allow SDF activities to protect and support refugees fleeing Afghanistan, as that country's Taliban rulers are a possible target of U.S. action.

The bill would also ease restrictions on weapon use, allowing SDF personnel to use weapons to not only protect themselves but also those under their care.

The second bill is intended to revise the SDF Law to allow the SDF to guard U.S. bases in Japan in the event of terrorist attacks.

Under this bill, SDF vessels would be allowed to shoot first at hostile ships if defensive action is required during patrols. Currently, SDF vessels can only use their weapons to return fire.

In addition, SDF members would be allowed to use weapons to keep public order and thwart possible guerrilla attacks prior to receiving instructions to do so from the government.

Tougher on info leaks

Penalties for civilians who leak defense secrets will be included in a planned bill to revise the Self-Defense Forces Law in connection with the terrorist attacks in the United States, sources close to the talks said Wednesday.

The penalties, which currently only target serving SDF personnel, would cover company employees, government officials and retired SDF members.

They would cover both intentional leaks and those resulting from negligence, and would be applied to violations inside and outside Japan.

The bill, aimed at allowing SDF troops to guard U.S. military facilities in Japan, would raise the maximum penalty for violations to five years in prison from the current one year.

The bill is expected to be approved by the Cabinet on Friday and submitted to the Diet along with another bill to allow the SDF to provide rear-area support for any U.S. retaliation for the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

In his seven-point plan for Japan's response to the attacks, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he wants the SDF to help in four areas:

* Provide medical services and transport of provisions for forces involved in a U.S.-led retaliation. * Dispatch SDF vessels for intelligence-gathering. * Support refugees from Afghanistan. * Protect U.S. military facilities in Japan.

The government wants the bills enacted later this month.

According to the Defense Agency, the current SDF law stipulates up to one year in prison for SDF members as punishment for leaking secrets obtained through official duties.

While the current law aims at maintaining service discipline, the revision would prioritize security, the sources said.

They said designated security secrets would include SDF operations and operational plans, radio and photographic information concerning defense collected by the SDF, plans and studies concerning defense improvements, and composition of security communication networks and communications procedures.

Information would be designated secret by the Defense Agency chief, the source said.

The agency has been considering countermeasures against leaks since a senior officer in the Maritime Self-Defense Force was arrested in September 2000 for allegedly passing secrets to a Russian defense attache in Tokyo.

Experts said the bill to revise the SDF Law could draw intense debate in the Diet out of fear that it could be used to withhold from the public information about Japan's basic defense policies, and the number of SDF aircraft and warships.

They said there could be calls that the bill include language ensuring SDF accountability.