Protests precede security vote

Demonstrators, police square off in front of lawmakers' venue

Opposition lawmakers and thousands of demonstrators were staging last-ditch protests in a political showdown on Wednesday as Japan's ruling party started a final push to pass security legislation to expand the role of the country's military.

The bills would allow the military to defend Japan's allies even when the country isn't under attack, work more closely with the US and other allies, and do more in international peacekeeping.