Abe apologizes for WWII sex slaves

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, under fire abroad for denying government involvement in forcing women to serve as sex slaves during World War II, said yesterday he was "apologizing here and now as the prime minister".

Abe said earlier this month there was no proof Japan's government or army kidnapped women to stay in military brothels as "comfort women", as the wartime sex slaves are known in Japan.

He had also said he stood by a 1993 apology known as the Kono Statement that acknowledged official involvement in the brothels.