Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hinted on Wednesday that his government may not submit a bill to allow female monarchs during the current Diet session, Kyodo News reported.

"The bill should be enacted in a manner that would satisfy all parties concerned after the issue is discussed cautiously," Koizumi told a House of Representatives Budget Committee session.

Koizumi said the government should decide whether to submit the bill to revise the Imperial House Law after seeing developments of Diet discussion on the issue.

His softening of insistence came a day after the announcement of the pregnancy of Princess Kiko, who, if gives birth to a baby boy, will add a third on the line for the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito, 45, and Prince Akishino, 40, under the current Imperial House Law that allows only male heirs with emperors on their fathers' side to reign.

Shortly after Princess Kiko's pregnancy emerged on Tuesday, Koizumi expressed his desire to maintain the policy of presenting the bill to the current regular Diet session through June 18.

Source: Xinhua