Japanese PM's 'regret' at US vote

The bill urges Japan to acknowledge the women's suffering

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed regret at a US resolution calling on Tokyo to formally apologise for the use of wartime sex slaves.

He said he wanted to focus on the future, not on the past.

Earlier, his chief cabinet secretary said Japan had already "addressed the comfort women issue sincerely".

The symbolic, non-binding resolution urges Japan to formally acknowledge its role in forcing thousands of women into sex slavery in World War II.

Up to 200,000 "comfort women" from across Asia were part of Japan's military brothel programme.

Embattled Abe

Mr Abe told reporters: "The resolution is regrettable. I explained my views and the government's response on this matter during my visit to the US in April."

Those who posit that all of the comfort women were happily complicit and acting of their own accord simply do not understand the meaning of the word rape Tom Lantos House Committee on Foreign Affairs chairman

"The 20th Century was an era of human rights abuses. We want to make the 21st Century a brighter time for the people in the world with no human rights abuses," he said.

Mr Abe caused an uproar in March when he said there was no proof that the government or the military had forced the women into sexual servitude.

He later apologised for the way his comments had been perceived, saying he felt sympathy for those affected.

The resolution comes at a difficult time for Mr Abe. On Sunday his ruling coalition suffered a crushing defeat in upper house polls, losing its majority and handing control of the house to the opposition.

He is facing pressure from the public and the media to step down, but the premier says he plans to remain in office and continue with an agenda of reform.

'Nauseating' denials

The House of Representatives' resolution calls on Japan - one of the strongest US allies in Asia - to "formally acknowledge, apologise and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner" for the suffering of the women.

Earlier this month, a group of Japanese lawmakers demanded the US government retract the resolution, saying it was based on "wrong information that is totally different from the historical fact".

Tom Lantos, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, described attempts to deny the use of sex slaves as "nauseating".

"There can be no denying the Japanese imperial military coerced thousands upon thousands of Asian women," Mr Lantos said.

"Those who posit that all of the comfort women were happily complicit and acting of their own accord simply do not understand the meaning of the word rape."

In 1993 Japan issued an official apology for the suffering of comfort women, acknowledging its involvement managing the brothels. But it was never approved by parliament and Japan has rejected most compensation claims, saying they have already been settled by treaties.