Australia PM meets Japan's FM on whaling

Moving to Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has met with Japan's Foreign Minister to discuss their differences on whaling.

One day before Katsuya Okada visited Sydney, Rudd set a November deadline for Japan to stop its research whaling programme in the Southern Ocean, or face international legal action.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Okada would seek clarification of the situation with Rudd. Before the meeting, Rudd said he was looking forward to a good discussion with the Japanese, but that his position on whaling is clear.

Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada (L) shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Sydney February 20, 2010. REUTERS/Greg Wood/Pool