PRESS DIGEST-Japan - April 18

Following are some of the leading stories in the Friday morning editions of Japanese newspapers, as compiled by Kyodo news agency:

-- Air Self-Defense Force activities in Iraq ruled violating Article 9 of the Constitution (Asahi)

-- Air-lift support for multinational forces ruled unconstitutional (Mainichi)

-- Air Self-Defense Force activities in Iraq ruled 'partially unconstitutional' (Yomiuri)

-- Companies employed more than 2 million people aged 65 or older last year (Nikkei)