The opposition camp on Monday called for Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's immediate resignation, while Mori himself continued to deny that he offered to step down when he proposed moving up the Liberal Democratic Party election.

"None of the top five executives of the party (present during a closed-door meeting Saturday with Mori) took (my proposal) as an announcement of my resignation," Mori told the Upper House Budget Committee. "I myself have not said such a thing, either."

Opposition lawmakers grilled Mori over what he meant when he proposed to top LDP officials Saturday that the next party presidential election be moved up. The election, which will effectively choose the next prime minister, was originally slated for September, when Mori's term as party chief expires.

But Mori offered to move up the election to improve the party's chances in the Upper House election in July. This was widely taken to mean he is ready to step down, because it is considered unlikely that the unpopular leader will run again in the race.

During the Upper House session, Mori did not clarify his intentions, however, saying, "I don't think it's appropriate for me to say that at the moment."

Mori and other top LDP leaders have been under pressure to make some kind of announcement as to his fate before today's party convention. Much of the pressure is coming from junior lawmakers and the party's local chapter representatives.

In Saturday's statement, Mori and the LDP wanted to avoid wording that would clearly imply his imminent resignation. The hope is that the apparent lame-duck prime minister will not be seen that way during his planned summits with U.S. President George W. Bush on March 19 and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 25.

The opposition camp stepped up its calls Monday for Mori's immediate resignation, saying his pact with the LDP leaders was a convenient move to help him weather criticism at the party convention.

Five opposition forces, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, said they would submit a nonbinding censure motion against Mori to the Upper House as early as today.

They said the announcement of his de facto resignation will result in a political vacuum, leaving the public in the dark.

Despite Mori's refusal to admit the announcement had to do with a planned resignation, the nation's political circles have already shifted to selecting his successor.

On Sunday, Takeshi Noda, secretary general of the New Conservative Party, the LDP's coalition partner, told a TV program that a successor Cabinet will probably be launched before the Golden Week holiday season begins April 28.

"Many of us hope for a new administration before the holidays," he said.

Noda, however, said Mori should not step down before the Diet enacts the fiscal 2001 budget, which cleared the House of Representatives and is expected to clear the House of Councilors late this month or early next.

Noda said he favored Hiromu Nonaka, a former secretary general of the LDP, as Mori's successor, citing his political experience. Nonaka, 75, however, has ruled out taking up the position, citing his age.

Shizuka Kamei, the outspoken policy chief of the LDP, meanwhile said age will not be a factor in selecting Mori's successor, noting that Nonaka is still "full of spirit."

Nonaka is considered one of the front-runners on the list of possible candidates to succeed Mori, 63, along with former Health and Welfare Minister Junichiro Koizumi, 59, and Ryutaro Hashimoto, 63, minister in charge of administrative reform and a former prime minister.