Japan lift Yugoslav sanctions

Japan says it is lifting economic sanctions it imposed against Yugoslavia two years ago.

The country's Foreign Minister, Yohei Kono, said the decision was aimed at supporting efforts to democratise the country.

Mr Kono also said Yugoslavia had moved steadily towards the international community since the new President, Vojislav Kostunica, took office in October.

Japan has already resumed official development assistance to Yugoslavia, but Tokyo will maintain its freeze on funds belonging to the country's former President, Slobodan Milosevic, and his allies, and continue restrictions on issuing visas to them. The decision is in line with earlier moves by the European Union and the United States.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service