Japan official denies wrongdoing

Mr Moriya said he played golf to relieve the stress of his job

A former Japanese defence official has expressed regret for "inappropriate" close ties with a defence contractor.

Takemasa Moriya admitted playing golf more than 200 times with an official from Yamada Corporation, but denied giving the firm any preferential deals.

Separately, Japan's military is under fire after allegations emerged that fuel was secretly diverted to help a US mission during 2003.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said the problems were "highly deplorable".

On Sunday, at a ceremony to mark the 57th anniversary of Japan's military, he called for greater discipline among military and defence officials.

Golfing ties

Mr Moriya, a former vice defence minister, admitted to parliament that his links with Yamada were "extremely inappropriate".

He said he had played golf with the contractor, a long-time friend, to relieve the stresses of his job - which he held for four years until he stepped down in August.

Mr Fukuda wants to renew Japan's Indian Ocean refuelling missions

But throughout intense questioning, he denied giving Yamada any preferential treatment as a result of the connection.

He also denied any links to the other scandal currently affecting Japan's defence ministry, the allegations about possible diversions of fuel to US military missions.

The ministry recently admitted that it had misreported the amount of fuel supplied by Japan to support a US warship.

It said that in 2003 it actually provided three million litres (800,000 gallons) when it had previously reported 750,000 litres.

The mistake fanned rumours about a possible diversion of fuel ships to aid US operations in Iraq.

The scandals are not only denting support for Mr Fukuda and his government, but they could also affect his plan to renew Japan's mission to supply fuel to coalition ships in the Indian Ocean.

The current law enabling the mission expires on 1 November, and renewing this legislation was one of Mr Fukuda's key priorities when he took over the leadership from Shinzo Abe late last month.

The plans have to be approved by parliament, but the opposition - which controls parliament's upper house - can delay the legislation, and is keen to use the current scandals to try to alter the bill.