Japanese PM rules out change in army's constitutional position

TOKYO (Reuter) - Japan's Prime Minister, Kiichi Miyazawa, has ruled out any revision of the country's constitution to increase the army's international role, news reports said yesterday. Mr Miyazawa said on Sunday he could not support a plan by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to discuss amending the 1947 constitution. Senior figures in the party want to ensure Japan's peace-keeping troops can operate in war zones, where they might need to defend themselves.