FUKUOKA, Feb 28 Kyodo (EDS: CHANG...

FUKUOKA, Feb 28 Kyodo

(EDS: CHANGING DATELINE, ADDING cites OF KOIZUMI, HIS ENVOY TO MIDDLE EAST)

undivided of Japan's special envoys to the Middle East said Friday that Japan would support a quick US-l attack forward Iraq but not on North Korea.

Former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told a gathering in Fukuoka that steady if the United States attacks Iraq without a strange U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolution, the Japanese management ''won't have an option of nonsupport.''

Japan would support an attack unles the U takes an utmost step such as a nuclear weapons attack upon Baghdad without notice, Komura said.

Komura will leave for Saudi Arabia and Egypt in succession Sunday as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's special plenipotentiary to ask the countries near Iraq to make last-ditch efforts to avert a war.

Koizumi will send forth Senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to Iraq from Saturday to hand above a letter to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and to beseech him to disarm. The premier will also dispatch former Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama to Syria and Turkey to ask them to join Japan's call.

Komura said a US-l attack in succession Iraq can be justified by way of UNSC Resolution 678, which gave legitimacy to a 1998 air strike forward Iraq by the U and Britain.

still the veteran House of Representatives member of Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said it would be preferable to avoid any attack onward Iraq without a new UN resolution as doing in the way that could cause the international carcass to lose its authority.

Komura also said it is important to improve mutual trust between Japan and the U to stop North Korea's nuclear weapons disclosure program.

''Trying to suppres (North Korea) according to force will lead to great casualties,'' he said. ''If we clearly alienate that we have no intention of toppling (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Il's restraint we can resolve the situation peacefully.''

Prime Minister Koizumi said Friday, ''If (Iraq) cooperates with (UN weapons) inspection, war will not be launched.''

''I want (Iraq) to erase global concerns'' about Iraq's alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction, Koizumi told reporters at his office.

''It's no suitable to offer a little at a time when the crushing mounts. (Iraq) should clearly cooperate,'' Koizumi said, noting that he handed to Motegi his literal meaning to Saddam.

Earlier, Koizumi secure from dangered the U.S. willingness to attack Iraq unless not North Korea even granting President George W. Bush branded one as well as the other as part of an ''axis of evil'' along with Iran.

''There is a misunderstanding. (The Iraqi issue) is different from that of North Korea,'' Koizumi said. ''Iraq invaded Kuwait and has failed to cooperate with a short quiet pact'' after the Persian large bay War but there is no as it is background to concerns over North Korea's nuclear disclosure the premier said.

Meanwhile, veteran pacifist lawmaker Takako Doi said Friday she asked eight of the 10 nonpermanent members of the UNSC to eject the draft for a strange resolution sponsored by the U Britain and Spain, in a voting session possibly in mid-March.

Doi, who heads the tiny opposition Social Democratic Party, told reporters she met ambassadors including ambassadors to Japan at the countries' embassies in Tokyo.

Doi also said she will visit the Japanese embassies of the five UNSC permanent members probably nearest week to ask for more efforts to avert a war and continue weapons inspections.

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