A senior member of parliament on Wednesday accused the Russian government of planning a quiet transfer of four disputed islands to Japan, but the charge was met with a quick denial from the Foreign Ministry.


Viktor Ilyukhin, chairman of the parliamentary security committee, told the State Duma that the government was planning to close its military bases on four islands in the Kuril archipelago. The islands are claimed by Japan.


"This means a gradual transfer of the Kuril Islands to Japan," Ilyukhin said.


His allegation hit a sensitive cord among the deputies, most of whom reject Japan's claim to the islands, which were occupied by Soviet forces in 1945. On Monday, Japanese Foreign Minister Tsutomu Hata met with Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin on the issue, but made no progress.


Asked about Ilyukhin's remarks, a Foreign Ministry official said President Boris Yeltsin had said during his Tokyo visit last year that Russia would reduce its military presence on the four islands.


However, the spokesman added: "There are no plans to hand over the islands." He said some troops would stay.


A senior Japanese Embassy official said it was assumed after Yeltsin's visit that most Russian troops other than border guards would be withdrawn.


"We certainly welcome this, but we do not expect that it is linked to the very early return of the islands," the official said.


Svetlana Kolosova contributed to this article.