A senior ruling party lawmaker urged the government Sunday to release this week the findings of a probe into the existence of documents indicating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe influenced the approval of a new department at a university run by a close friend.

"I want (the government) to present the results this week," Hakubun Shimomura, executive acting secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said during a television appearance.

A senior lawmaker from LDP coalition partner Komeito appearing on the same TV program also called for a swift response.