Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hinted Thursday that Japan would support a U.S.-led military offensive against Iraq "as an ally of the United States."

But during a session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, he said it would be "desirable" if the U.N. Security Council adopts a new resolution backing such an attack.

When pressed on whether Japan would support a U.S.-led strike in the absence of a new U.N. resolution, Koizumi only said he would await the outcome of Security Council discussions on the matter.