Japanese citizens opposed to controversial security bills that would enable Japanese troops to fight overseas continued their protest outside parliament Friday, as opposition lawmakers made last-minute efforts to prevent enactment of the legislation, Kyodo reported.

With police on heightened alert, more than 40,000 people angered by the voting through of the bills by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc at an upper house committee meeting the previous day, surrounded the Diet building in central Tokyo, according to the organizers.

Similar rallies were also held elsewhere across Japan, including Sapporo, Nagoya and Osaka.

Source: MENA