Japanese navy ships leave for anti-piracy mission

Two more Japanese navy destroyers left Monday to join an international mission to curb piracy off the coast of Somalia, and for the first time will be authorized to escort both foreign and Japanese vessels.

Harusame and Amagiri will replace two other destroyers that Japan deployed to the mission in the Gulf of Aden in March in its military's first post-war overseas policing action.

Japan's military is limited to defensive missions under the country's post-World War II charter and its forays overseas have been largely restricted to refueling, airlifting and humanitarian activities.

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