Tokyo: The US President, George W. Bush has praised Japan’s assistance to worldwide anti-terror efforts and has expressed desire that Tokyo should carry on military mission for Afghani troops.

According to a news report, Mr. George W. Bush said, Asian media organizations in a round-table meeting held before next week’s Asia-Pacific leaders’ conference in Sydney that his discussion projected for the recent month with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will concentrate on war on terror.

“Japan has been a positive contributor to dealing with the extremists in this ideological war,'' Kyodo quoted Bush as saying. ``I hope that they will continue to maintain their positive influence,” the report added.

In a separate interview with public broadcaster NHK, Bush stated, “The Japanese presence helps achieve peace, and that's what we want.”

Japanese naval forces supplied fuel and other logistical support for coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since November 2001 under a unique anti-terrorism law that has been elongated thrice and is set to terminate in coming November.

But, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan that seized power of Parliament’s upper house from the governing camp in July 29 elections, has lined up against stretching the law.

Ichiro Ozawa, the DPJ’s chief has debated the mission assaults Japan’s pacifist constitution that disallows the use of power in settling down worldwide conflicts. Ozawa also said Tokyo should only participate in U.N.-led peacekeeping missions.

Abe said he will make each and every attempt to gain the Democrats’ accompaniment in extending the mission.