TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned Justice Minister Masako Mori on Thursday over her controversial parliamentary remarks that public prosecutors were quick to flee from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Abe issued the warning at a meeting with Mori at the prime minister's office.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mori said: "My remarks were inappropriate. I will sincerely reflect on the remarks, withdraw them and apologize."

In a parliamentary meeting on Monday, Mori said that public prosecutors were the first to run away from the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, in the wake of the disaster.

She also said prosecutors escaped after releasing without reasons over 10 people who were in their custody at the time.

Opposition lawmakers reacted angrily to the remarks, stalling parliamentary proceedings temporarily Wednesday and Thursday.

As a result, a House of Representatives vote, set for early Thursday afternoon, on a bill to allow the government to declare a state of emergency over the new coronavirus, was delayed.

On Thursday, Jun Azumi, parliamentary affairs chief of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, demanded that the government clarify its view on the justice minister's remarks.

JIJI Press