TOKYO -- Japan has asked the United States to refrain from taking any military action against Iraq during the Winter Olympics, "the last sports festival of peace this century," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

In a telephone conversation Friday night with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi expressed Japan's concern about the possible outbreak of hostilities during the games, according to a statement released by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Albright said that she understood Japan's position, but asked for Japan's full support in backing a U.S.-led effort to force Iraq to abide by a U.N.-directed weapons inspections, the statement said.

KYODO NEWS REPORTED SATURDAY THAT President Clinton sent a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto earlier this week that stated the United States would not waver in its resolve to open Iraq to weapons inspection teams. Hashimoto, in return, sent a reply Friday, the contents of which were not disclosed.

Obuchi already has conveyed Japan's concerns with his counterparts in Britain and France.

Japan wants its allies to respect a non-binding resolution the United Nations passed in November urging countries to avoid any hostilities with one another during the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee has asked the Clinton administration to abide by an Olympic truce during the games, which end Feb. 22. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch expressed confidence Friday that Washington would find a peaceful solution to the crisis with Iraq.

"I think President Clinton is a great president, an outstanding politician, and I am sure he will find the diplomatic methods to convince Iraq and its president to respect the resolution of the United Nations," Samaranch said.

JAPAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS WARNED travelers to postpone trips to Iraq and has told Japanese living in Iraq to leave the country.

"Tensions are growing between the Iraq and the international community over the issue of U.N. inspections," the ministry said. "We are renewing our evacuation warning regarding Iraq."

The United States has been increasing the size of its military presence in the Persian Gulf for a possible military attack on Iraq over its noncompliance with U.N. weapons inspections.

Clinton has said no decision has been made to attack Iraq, but Defense Secretary William Cohen said the Olympics cannot figure in U.S. military planning.

Iraq isn't sending a delegation to the Nagano Games.