Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday rejected an opposition demand that he apologize for making a "serious mistake" in supporting the U.S.-led war against Iraq.

Koizumi argued that Baghdad deserved the military attacks for neglecting the international community's calls for a peaceful resolution to the prewar crisis.

During queries in the House of Representatives plenary session, Katsuya Okada, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, said Koizumi "should frankly admit supporting the U.S.-led war against Iraq was a serious mistake and apologize to the Japanese and the Iraqi people."