A man attempted suicide Thursday in front of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's office in central Tokyo after police refused to let him meet with the prime minister.

The unidentified man was taken to a hospital after drinking a white liquid, believed to be a pesticide, shortly after 3 p.m. He is reported to be in stable condition, police said.

According to investigators, the man appeared at the north gate of the prime minister's office and residential complex in Chiyoda Ward and asked if he could meet with Koizumi, displaying a document addressed to the prime minister.

The document was a three-page letter titled "People's Voice" containing assertions concerning North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens and Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, police said.