Naoto Kan, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, expressed reserve Sunday about sending Japanese officials to the U.S. Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance to assist in the reconstruction of post-conflict Iraq.

"The ORHA is a unit of the U.S. Department of Defense," the leader of the nation's largest opposition party told a television program. "Conceptually, it appears to be impossible for Japanese government officials to be part of the body."

Kan expressed concerns over Japan participating in the reconstruction of Iraq outside the framework of the United Nations.

Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition Liberal Party, said on the same program he also thinks the U.N. should play the central role in rebuilding Iraq.

"It would not be a good idea to handle postwar Iraq under the framework of the United States," Ozawa said. "I believe it is correct (for reconstruction) to be addressed under the U.N."

On Friday, Toshimitsu Motegi, senior vice foreign minister, told a news conference there is no legal problem with sending Japanese nationals or government officials to an international organization or foreign government, unless those sent are directly involved in military action.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told a separate news conference that it is possible to send personnel to the ORHA, as long as they are civilians.

However, he issued a statement later the same day to retract his earlier comment, saying the government will examine what kind of corporation with the ORHA is possible and appropriate.