Tokyo: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said on August 28, Washington was confident of getting global support for a military strike on Iraq, but President George Bush had made no decision yet on whether to proceed.

"When the US lays out the public case against Iraq, we do expect to have a fair amount of international support," Armitage told a news conference in Tokyo.

"I have no doubt that when the President makes the decision and that we lay out our public case and that we consult with friends and allies, at the end of day, there're a good many people who will share the view with president Bush," he said.

On August 27, Armitage met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda to discuss Iraq.

He also held talks with Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi on August 27 and 28 to discuss what foreign ministry officials described as medium- and long-term diplomatic and security issues.

"Today and yesterday we simply exchanged views about the regime and our views of Saddam Hussein," Armitage said, declining to go into details.

"I did not come here to lay out the decisions for the Japanese government. I simply came here to have a discussion and exchange views on Iraq...I did not come to ask Japan to do something specifically on Iraq or anything else. I came to share views on this question," Armitage stressed.

Japanese lawmakers, however, said on August 27 that Armitage called on Japan to consider support for the United States if it moves ahead with military action against Iraq.

The United States accuses Iraq of harbouring terrorists and developing weapons of mass destruction.

"We believe that we will ultimately be able to make a compelling case about the weapons of mass destruction and at an appropriate time we'll be moving forward," Armitage said.

When Washington made the decision, Armitage said the United States would engage in "full consultations with friends and allies, such as those in Japan."

Japanese newspapers said some lawmakers in the ruling coalition doubted that Washington had "just cause" for attacking Iraq. Former premier Yasuhiro Nakasone was one of them, according to the best-selling 'Yomiuri Shimbun'.

"In case the United States attacks Iraq, you'd better tell them frankly when you think you need to put the brakes on," Nakasone was quoted as telling Koizumi when they met on August 8.

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party secretary general Taku Yamasaki told Armitage that it "would be impossible" under the current interpretation of Japan's pacifist Constitution for Japan to extend military cooperation, the conservative 'Sankei Shimbun' said.

The ruling coalition rammed through temporary laws in October 2001 allowing a Japanese Naval fleet to provide logistical, non-combat support limited to the Indian Ocean for the military anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan.

It was the first time since World War II that Japanese troops were deployed in a war zone, although Japan's post-war Constitution bans the use of force in settling international disputes.

It "would be extremely difficult" to send troops under the current temporary legislation as it limits Japan's cooperation to those issues related to the September 11 terror attacks, the Yomiuri said.

A government source was quoted voicing reservations, saying: "Helping strikes on Iraq would make oil-producing Arab nations hostile to us and cause an energy problem for Japan."

Appearing to regard a US strike against Baghdad as inevitable, the Yomiuri said many lawmakers believed Japan would still offer humanitarian help.

"What Japan could offer is assistance for refugees and other aid to stabilise neighbouring countries as well as to help reconstruction after operations are over," a senior foreign ministry official was quoted as saying.