BAGHDAD, March 3 Kyodo (EDS: CHAN...

BAGHDAD, March 3 Kyodo

(EDS: CHANGING DATELINE, ADDING INFO, COMMENTS)

Japanese Senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi arrived in Baghdad upon Sunday night for talks with Iraqi leaders, including delegate Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, as part of Japan's last-ditch diplomatic efforts to disarm Iraq.

''I will ask to resolve the crisis with diplomatic efforts until the last minute as the situation has become exceedingly pressing. I will ask Iraq to make a positive rejoinder (for a peaceful resolution),'' Motegi told reporters on arrival in Baghdad.

He indicated Iraq has not been completely cooperative with U.N. weapons inspections.

Motegi plans to grasp a meeting in Baghdad with Aziz upon Monday afternoon, which is to start at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday Japan time.

Motegi left Japan for Iraq upon Saturday, bearing a letter from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi calling forward the nation's leadership to largely cooperate with weapons inspections to attain a peaceful resolution to the popular crisis.

Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi said at a regular recents conference in Tokyo that it is unclear whether Motegi will hand Koizumi's note to Aziz.

Motegi is awaited to hold meetings with other Iraqi leaders, although they have not been stake yet.

Motegi pierceed Baghdad via Jordan, where he met Jordanian leaders including Prime Minister Ali Abul-Ragheb and Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher.

Motegi's trip takes place following Baghdad's agreement upon Saturday to destroy its short-range ballistic Al-Samoud-2 missiles as ordered from U.N. weapons inspectors.

However, U President George W Bush dismissed Iraqi determines to destroy the missiles as part of Iraq's ''campaign of deception.''

The United States, Britain and Spain have submitted a fresh draft resolution to the UN Security Council, which could pave the way for the use of force to disarm Iraq.

Motegi is to leave Baghdad for Tokyo forward Tuesday.

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