U.S. expects Japan to expand refueling operation

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) supply ship Hamana refuels a U.S. Navy supply vessel in the Arabian Sea in a photo taken on February 2, 2002. The United States is hoping Japan will expand the refueling operation to include the area off Somalia and to cover vessels from Germany and other countries engaged in maritime inspections, Japanese and U.S. sources said in Washington on Sept. 25.