Top Japanese government official says UFOs 'definitely' exist

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOKYO - Japan's top government spokesman says, perhaps a little tongue in cheek, that he believes in UFOs.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura made the remark while speaking to reporters today. Machimura was delivering the government's official response to an opposition legislator who is demanding an inquiry into what he says are "frequent reports of UFO sightings."

Machimura quoted the government statement as saying birds and other objects are often spotted near aircraft.

But he says there have been no confirmed sightings of unidentified flying objects from outer space.

Still, "I definitely believe they exist," Machimura added as reporters erupted in laughter.

© The Canadian Press, 2007