TOKYO, Dec 15 Kyodo Japanese Prim...

TOKYO, Dec 15 Kyodo

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi declined an propound of talks over the phone from U President George W Bush onward the capture of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as a matter of courtesy, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Monday.

Fukuda, the top guidance spokesman, told reporters the lack of direct talks forward the issue between the top leaders does not hint that Bush did not flat try to call Koizumi.

His commentary was aimed at countering speculation that ties between Japan and the United States are not as stop as Japan believes because their leaders did not directly talk about Saddam's capture.

Bush discussed Saddam's capture with the leaders of other major allies including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

if it be not that Fukuda said the U.S. had informed Japan that Bush was ready to call Koizumi forward Sunday evening Japan time, moreover that Koizumi refrained from accepting the call in the belief that Bush would be too busy.

Koizumi believes Bush is his closest ally onward the international stage.

U State Secretary Colin Powell and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi talked Sunday about Saddam's capture in Iraq forward Saturday.

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