Terrorism Fears Prompt Increased Security
Japan tightened security at hundreds of airports, nuclear plants and government facilities, deploying riot police to guard against terrorist attacks as the country dispatched troops to Iraq.
A National Police Agency official confirmed the heightened security but refused to say whether the government had new information about a possible terrorist strike. He said it was the biggest security effort in Japan since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last March.
Surveillance was increased at about 650 vital facilities, including U.S. military bases, Japanese media reported.
The security moves sent a shiver through global financial markets, knocking the Japanese yen to 10-week lows against the U.S. dollar.
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