Japan pulls back on denials of World War II sex slavery

Japan has acknowledged that it conducted only a limitedinvestigation before claiming there was no official evidence that its imperialtroops coerced Asian women into sexual slavery before and during World War II.

A parliamentary statement signed Tuesday by Prime MinisterShinzo Abe acknowledged a document produced by a postwar international militarytribunal containing a Japanese soldier's testimony about abducting Chinesewomen as military sex slaves.

That evidence was not included in Japan's only investigationof the issue, in 1991-1993. Tuesday's parliamentary statement said documentsshowing forcible sex slavery may still exist.

Abe has acknowledged so-called "comfort women"existed but denied they were coerced into prostitution, citing a lack ofofficial evidence. He stated that view as prime minister in 2007, andreiterated it in February after he regained power.