In Asia

JAPAN BACKED PRESIDENT BUSH’S ultimatum to Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, and Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama told U.S. Ambassador Michael H. Armacost that Japan “will basically support the United States hereafter too.” Nakayama summoned Iraqi Ambassador Rashid Rifai and urged Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait immediately and unconditionally. An opinion poll conducted by the television network NHK indicated that six out of 10 Japanese supported the U.S. deadline for Iraqi withdrawal. The poll, carried out about six hours before the deadline, showed that 61% of about 1,000 respondents were in favor of the ultimatum while 37% were against, NHK said.