Tokyo sends navy for Somalia mission

Japan ordered on Friday two naval vessels to join international patrols aimed at curbing pirate attacks off Somalia, after months of deliberations on how to help protect cargo ships without breaching its pacifist constitution.

The destroyers are to set off from the port of Kure in southern Japan on Saturday.

Navy patrols by vessels from 18 countries have helped bring down the number of attacks on cargo ships from a peak of 37 in November to just seven in February.