The government has been deflecting a growing amount of criticism, even from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, since it came out in clear support of adopting a new resolution against Iraq at the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, however, told a news conference Friday morning that Japan's speech at the Security Council did not indicate support of a U.S.-led military offensive against Iraq.

"Adopting a new resolution means that the international community will speak in one voice," said a visibly irritated Fukuda when asked about criticism that has arisen within the LDP. "We are not saying we support a military strike.