Japan's former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka has appeared in front of a parliamentary ethics panel to deny allegations she misused state funds.

I have an impression that suspicions remain

Japan's PM Junichiro Koizumi

"I want to first clearly state that there is no truth to such allegations," Mrs Tanaka told the Lower House of parliament's political ethics panel in an unprecedented live national TV broadcast.

Mrs Tanaka, Japan's first female foreign minister, has been accused of possibly misusing public funds intended to pay salaries to her secretaries.

In the past she has admitted the salaries were paid in part through a company she owns, but denied any wrongdoing.

Last month she was suspended from the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) for not co-operating with its investigation into the accusations.

Her sacking from the post of foreign minister in January dented the popularity of Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and undermined the government's reform credentials.

Suspicions remain

Speaking in public for the first time in more than a month, Mrs Tanaka told the parliamentary panel that she did not trust the LDP.

Koizumi's described the decision to sack Tanaka as 'bitter'

She said she feared any material she submitted to its enquiry might be leaked to the media.

But lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties said they were unconvinced, despite Mrs Tanaka's repeated denials of the allegations.

"I have an impression that suspicions remain. I believe it is necessary to respond seriously to sweep away the suspicions," Mr Koizumi said, after watching her address the panel on TV.

"You failed to clear up the suspicions. Rather, you have deepened the suspicions," Fumihiro Himori, MP from the opposition Social Democratic Party, told the panel.

Harsh punishment

Mrs Tanaka, daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, is credited with playing a key role in Mr Koizumi's meteoric rise to power last year. But she became a thorn in his side as a cabinet minister.

Mr Koizumi sacked her to end her bitter feud with Foreign Ministry officials and LDP heavyweights such as Muneo Suzuki, who was arrested last month for alleged bribe-taking.