"I understand and support the United States' resort to use of force given that Iraq has ignored, disdained and mocked UN resolutions," said a solemn Japanese Prime Minister at an hastily summoned press conference in the afternoon.

"In consideration of its national interests, Japan supports this use of force against Iraq by the United States, our ally, and other countries, " he said.

Koizumi convened the government's Security Council and an emergency cabinet meeting to endorse a package of urgent measures over the war.

The Japanese prime minister noted that Japan will be actively engaged in the rehabilitation and re-establishment of post-war Iraq.

He was also expected to tell Japanese Defense Agency to tighten precautions against terrorism, eyeing the possibility of having the Self-Defense Forces help US forces in guard the inside of its bases in Japan.

It surprises no one that Japan, a key ally of the United States, stands determined and firm with the United States at time of a war.

The Japanese prime minister announced his backing just hours after US President George W. Bush delivered an ultimatum to Iraq on Monday.

Koizumi's seemingly abrupt departure from Japan's usual anodynemultilateralism to support the US-led war was well thought and a long time coming.

During the United States was trying to win support in the United Nations for a new resolution giving Iraq a deadline to disarm, Bush, after disappointing telephone conversations with other heads of state, was happy to getting the backing from Japan, according to Japan's Asahi Shimbun daily.

With so much at stake, Japan does not have a lot choices but to choose to support the United States, some Japanese politicians argued.

Tens of thousands of Japanese have been out on the streets of Tokyo to protest against possible war in Iraq in these days, but Koizumi repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining the 50-year-old alliance with the United States.

Opinion polls show that nearly 80 percent of Japanese public against an assault on Iraq.

Koizumi, whose support rate dropped to about 45 percent from the 90 percent rating two years ago, may found his approval rate further dive, analysts said.

The Japanese prime minister, who lacks allies in his faction-ridden ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), relies heavily on public support.

His stance towards the war may hurt him and his structural reforms dearly with a dwindling public support, analysts here said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)