Aum Shinrikyo followers are striving to hold together to reconstruct their cult, believing Armageddon will come this year in accordance with founder Shoko Asahara's prediction, according to a report released Friday by the Public Security Investigation Agency.

The report says the cult currently consists of 15 divisions, including those in charge of making decisions, handling legal matters, accounting, public relations and medicine.

More than 500 resident followers were living at 34 cult facilities, in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Saitama, Aichi and 12 other prefectures as of the end of January, it says.

The cult is thought to have over 1,000 other members who are supporting its activities, it says. Among the 34 facilities, 16 have been involved in disputes with local residents, including some cases in court, the report says.

The cult is raising funds, mainly from sales of its computer-related business, which is believed to have racked up 7 billion yen in 1998, according to the report.

Aum imports computer parts mainly from the United States and Taiwan. Followers assemble the parts and sell them at five stores in Tokyo and one in Nagoya as well as via mail order, it said. The operation has enabled the cult to cut labor costs and sell its products at prices about 10 percent to 20 percent lower than other stores, the report says.

In addition, Aum runs a store that specializes in computer maintenance services, which has also done well, the agency said.

The cult also raises funds by organizing seminars for nonresident followers. The money, in many cases, is collected as participation fees, ranging from a few thousand to millions of yen, the report says.

Of the 428 followers who were arrested after the Tokyo subway nerve gas attack in March 1995, 368 have either finished their sentences or were not charged or convicted, it says, adding that 170 of them have returned to the cult.

In addition, of the 18 followers who finished prison terms between January 1998 and last month, the agency has confirmed that eight have returned to Aum facilities.

The report also says the Tokyo Detention House, where Asahara is being held during his trial, is considered holy ground by followers, and they are encouraged to visit the place and pray.

The followers seem to believe Asahara's prediction that Armageddon will hit in September, and top disciples are calling on members to prepare to survive the final stages of the world war, the report says.

Such messages, which are also spread via the Internet, are deluding followers and serving as a means to bring back those who have left the cult, it says.

Aum has decided to put more effort into promoting its teachings overseas this year, setting up an English version of the cult's official Web site at the end of January, according to the report.

Someone claiming to be an Aum follower has been running another Web site in Russia since 1997, spreading the cult's teachings in Russian and English, it says.

In response to the report, Aum said in a statement, "There is nothing dangerous about Aum Shinrikyo, and the Public Security Investigation Agency should stop interfering in our religious activities."