Japan expressed support Saturday for a revised draft resolution submitted jointly by the United States, Britain and Spain to the United Nations Security Council that sets March 17 as the deadline for Iraq to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction.
"The (revised) draft resolution will serve as a final effort by the international community to together pressure Iraq so that it will voluntarily disarm," said Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in a statement. "We will support this (resolution)."
Kawaguchi added that the government will continue its diplomatic efforts "so that the international society will come together as one," an indication that Tokyo plans to urge other members of the Security Council to support the revised resolution.