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Japanese official believed to have leaked information

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda yesterday expressed his outrage over allegations that a government intelligence official handed over research information to Russia.

"It is highly regrettable that this happened right here at our feet," Fukuda told reporters. "Honestly, the magnitude of this problem is ridiculous."

Officials declined to give details of the allegations. But news reports said the case involved a 52-year-old man at the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, which gathers and analyzes information for Japan's central government.

Police are questioning the man on suspicion that he handed over printed material to a Russian official about political developments in Japan, Kyodo News said, quoting unnamed sources.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said the government would do its utmost to investigate the case and prevent similar incidents.

"We must quickly draft prevention measures and execute them," said Machimura, who oversees Cabinet departments including the intelligence office and serves as the government's top spokesman.

The Japanese official being probed met a Russian embassy official in Tokyo on numerous occasions last year to deliver the documents, the Tokyo Shimbun said.

The Japanese official was in charge of Russian affairs several years ago but is currently with the general affairs section of the office that has nothing to do with Russia, Kyodo News said.

The police are looking into details of the alleged leak and whether the official received any reward for it, the news agency said.

The case comes as Japan investigates the leaking of sensitive data about the US-developed high-tech AEGIS combat system.

That probe was launched after a petty naval officer with a Chinese wife was found with confidential information on his computer.
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