A war of words erupted between senior officials of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan over both parties' wooing of now-arrested Livedoor Co. founder Takafumi Horie to run in the Sept. 11 general election.

The exchange was triggered Tuesday when LDP Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe faced criticism from reporters for having enthusiastically supported Horie, who was arrested Monday on suspicion of violating the securities law, in the election.

Takebe asked why the reporters didn't also confront then DPJ leader Katsuya Okada, who, he said, had also "approached" the maverick Internet entrepreneur before the poll.