Japan would not abandon the bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, a foreign ministry official said Monday, rejecting a newspaper report Sunday which said the Japanese government had decided to give up the ambition.

"Japan will not give up the resolution and will continue the effort to get the understanding and support from other countries," a foreign ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.

The Sankei Shimbun reported Sunday that the Japanese government had decided to give up the effort to seek an adoption of the UN reform resolution submitted by the Group of Four -- Brazil, India, Germany and Japan.

The four countries are pressing hard to get this document clear the UN General Assembly in September. Their hope, however, was dampened after losing the support of the 53-member African Union.

UN Secretary General Cofi Annan has suggested that the vote on the resolution be postponed to December.

The Japanese government had determined that the resolution would not be adopted by the General Assembly and would review its strategy, the Sankei Shimbun report said, adding Japan would consult with three other nations on quitting the bid.

Tokyo would target its fresh effort in 2020 when a conference to review the structure of the Security Council will take place, the paper said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2005)