Japan PM apology on sex slaves (BBC)

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Monday, 26 March 2007, 10:36 GMT 11:36 UK

Japan PM apology on sex slaves

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has apologised in parliament
for the country's use of women as sex slaves during World War II.

The apology comes after Mr Abe was criticised by Asian neighbours
for previous comments casting doubt on whether the women were
coerced.

Mr Abe told parliament: "I apologise here and now as prime minister."

This appears to be part of a concerted bid to reduce the fall-out
of earlier comments, a BBC correspondent says.

-snip-

His statement has gone a little further than similar attempts
to clarify his position two weeks ago, but is unlikely to satisfy
all his critics abroad, the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6495115.stm

[BlooInBloo]

1. After *twice* recently saying they *weren't* coerced? Weird!

[NewJeffCT]

2. They probably realized

It's not wise for them to piss off two of their largest trading partners - China & Korea.