Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was challenged during a House of Representatives committee session Friday over his idea of what constitutes evidence of guilt.

Koizumi was attempting to persuade the Diet to enact bills allowing Japan to assist U.S. military action in Afghanistan by suggesting that Osama bin Laden proved his guilt over the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. in a recently televised statement.

"On television (on Monday), Osama bin Laden praised those who damaged New York and Washington as people sent by God," Koizumi paraphrased "and did not deny his involvement despite the allegations voiced by many countries."