The Cabinet approved a bill Friday to combat terrorism that will allow Japan's armed forces to support U.S.-led operations against terrorist suspects in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

The government-sponsored bill, which was submitted to the Diet later in the day, is expected to clear the legislature by the end of this month.

The bill has already won approval from the three ruling parties, which jointly hold a majority in both chambers of the Diet.