Japanese Prime Minister apologizes over Dutch POWs

The visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologized on Monday in Leiden over the ill-treatment of Dutch prisoners of war (POWs) in Southeast Asia during the Second World War.

"Humbly accepting the fact that Japan inflicted grave damage and pain on people of many countries including the Netherlands during the Second World War, we would like to deeply reflect on this and offer heartfelt apology," Koizumi was uoted as saying by a Japanese official.

During the meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, Koizumi also expressed his gratitude for the Dutch forces' efforts to ensure security in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where Japanese troops are deployed for the reconstructionof Iraq.

Koizumi sought the Netherlands' understanding of an expansion of the United Nation Security Council as part of UN reform, the officials added. Japan has been trying to win international support to become a permanent member of the Security Council.

The Japanese leader is in the Netherlands on the last leg of a four-nation trip that also brings him to India, Pakistan and Luxembourg.

Koizumi is scheduled to head home to Japan on Monday night after paying a visit to Dutch Queen Beatrix.