Parliament Wednesday approved a $9 billion contribution to U.S.-led forces in the Persian Gulf, one week after the war ended.
The contribution is to fulfill a pledge made by Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu shortly after the war broke out Jan. 17.The money will be paid to the Gulf Cooperation Council, a Saudi-based coordinating body for the multinational forces, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Japan earlier paid $2 billion into the Council's Peace Fund and pledged another $2 billion in soft loans to Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.