Japan minister says US A-bombs "couldn't be helped"

By Staff
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TOKYO, June 30 (Reuters) Japan's defence minister said today the 1945 atomic bombings on the country by the United States ''couldn't be helped'' as they led to the end of World War Two.

The comments are likely to invite criticism from victims and opposition parties, and may further dim Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling bloc's prospects in a July 29 upper house election.

''My understanding is that it ended the war and that it couldn't be helped,'' Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma said in a speech near Tokyo.

''When it was dropped on Nagasaki, it was a tragedy,'' Kyuma, whose electoral district includes Nagasaki, also said.

The 66-year-old minister later told reporters he did not intend to justify the bombings, but reiterated that from the US perspective, the use of atomic bombs at the time was inevitable.

Government officials in Japan -- the only nation to suffer an atomic bombing -- typically express sympathy for the victims, but avoid criticising the attacks out of consideration for Tokyo's ties with Washington, its closest security ally.

Japan has also come under fire for stressing its status as a victim because of the atomic bombings and failing to acknowledge its own war atrocities.

However, an official from a victims organisation said the fact no nuclear weapons have been used in war since was evidence the US action has not been vindicated.

''I'm not quite sure what Mr Kyuma wanted to say. But one thing that is clear is that nuclear weapons have not been used for 60 some years,'' said Senji Yamaguchi, a 76-year-old Nagasaki bombing victim.

''That is because of the power of global public opinion,'' added Yamaguchi, who is also the co-chairperson of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organisations.

Kyuma said he does wonder why the United States had to use the bombs when its victory against Japan was evident, but added Washington may have used them to try to prevent the Soviet Union from entering the war against Japan.

The comments come as prime minister Abe struggles to cool voter anger over the government's mishandling of pension records, which has resulted in his support ratings dipping to around 30 percent ahead of the July polls.

Kyuma is known for his outspokenness, and angered Washington with a string of comments after assuming his post last September.

The ruling party lawmaker has said the United States was wrong to start the war in Iraq and criticised Washington for not having a post-war strategy.

REUTERS SBC VV1536

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