But the ruling parties concluded that they must comply with opposition demands to have Moriya testify as a sworn witness. If sworn witnesses commit perjury during Diet testimony, they face criminal charges. The decision also came after Moriya admitted that he frequently played golf with the former executive of Yamada Corp.

in violation of the Self-Defense Forces' regulations on ethics. The regulations prohibit SDF members from playing golf with people who have business interests with the SDF. Yamada had lucrative business deals with the Defense Ministry when the golfing partner was still with the company.

The LDP and New Komeito also took into consideration the fact that Moriya served as vice defense minister--the top SDF official--until Aug. 31, when he stepped down over a high-profile feud over his successor. In addition to Moriya, the opposition camp has demanded seven defense officials appear at the Diet as sworn witnesses in connection with the Maritime Staff Office's cover-up of the amount of fuel the MSDF supplied to a U.

S. refueling ship in February 2003. "The seven are still incumbent officials (of the Defense Ministry or the SDF)," a senior official of New Komeito's Diet Affairs Committee said.

"If necessary, we can have them appear at the Diet as government representatives.