People are still being killed when weapons are unearthed

The online petition was launched by seven Chinese websites and is believed to be the country's largest ever.

This petition has come as an embarrassment to the governments of both countries Tim Luard, BBC News Online Analysis: Protests worry China's leaders

Activists presented it to the Japanese embassy on Thursday to mark the 72nd anniversary of the "Mukden Incident", which Japan used to justify its occupation of north-east China.

The petition demands that Japan apologise, clean up any remaining chemical weapons in China and pay compensation to the victims.

Feng Xinhua, one of the petition's organisers, told the BBC's Chinese service that he was surprised and pleased by the number of signatories.

1931 MUKDEN INCIDENT Japanese army officers staged an attack on its railway in north east China Used incident to justify seizure of nearby town of Mukden (Shenyang) Japan went on to occupy all of north east China Incident now seen as a cause of WWII in Pacific

"It's the first time there has been such a big internet petition in China," he said.

Other anti-Japanese petitions, such as an application by 50 activists to stage a protest march in Beijing on Thursday, have been prohibited by police.

Buried weapons

Japan's wartime record in China is a regular source of tension between the two governments.

In August, one man died and more than 40 were injured when mustard gas was found at a construction site in the Chinese city of Qiqihar.

An estimated 700,000 chemical weapons were left behind by the retreating Japanese army, some of them buried or concealed.

Several writs have already been lodged against the Japanese Government, alleging damage or injury because of the weapons.

The purpose of this petition is that we are hoping that through a million people's responses... the truth with be released Feng Xinhua

Lawyers for the plaintiffs say that up to 2,000 people have died since 1945, after coming into contact with the weapons.

Feng Xinhua said the idea for the petition was sparked by the Qiqihar disaster.

Japan apologised for the incident, but refused calls for compensation on the grounds that the issue was settled when the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1972.

Feng Xinhua said that "money was not the issue".

"It is not what we really care about. The purpose of this petition is that we are hoping that through a million people's responses... the truth with be released," he said.