Koizumi apologises for past, meeting with Hu sought

JAKARTA, Friday (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologised on Friday for the "tremendous damage and suffering" caused by Japan's wartime past in an apparent effort to help douse a flaming row with China.

Koizumi made the apology during a speech at a multilateral summit in Jakarta in front of leaders from 100 Asian and African countries including Chinese President Hu Jintao, whom he is likely to meet in the coming days.

Japan's foreign minister had said the fence-mending talks would probably take place on Friday, but a Japanese government source said this was unlikely. Officials were trying to arrange a meeting for sometime on Saturday or later, the source said.

"In the past, Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations," Koizumi said during the opening of the Asia-Africa summit.

"Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility," he said, adding the Japanese people have engraved in their minds "feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology."

The apology conforms with past statements by Tokyo but such an admission in front of an international audience is rare.

Relations between the two Asian economic powerhouses are at their worst since they normalised ties in 1972.