Koizumi puts U.S. alliance ahead of U.N.

By announcing his support for a U.S.-led war on Iraq without a fresh United Nations resolution, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made it clear Tuesday that his government emphasizes Japan's alliance with the United States over U.N.-centered efforts for peace.

"If the U.S., in cooperation with Britain and other countries, has no other choice but to resort to force, the Japanese government will support this decision," Koizumi said.

The comments mark a departure from the prime minister's earlier emphasis on the importance of international coordination on the Iraq crisis. Koizumi has repeatedly said the U.N. Security Council should adopt a fresh resolution authorizing a war on Iraq.