But until today, the 50th anniversary of the Japanese surrender, no national leader had offered an outright apology.

But, in his closest approach to an outright apology, he said: "Our heads bow.

"Please ..." She stopped short of an outright apology.

The same poll found that 58 percent thought Mr. Clinton should have made an outright apology.

But the statement was also consistent with the position of the Japanese Government that no outright apology for Japanese actions was necessary.

She seems to want understanding, if not an outright apology, from the people she questions That, it turns out, is asking too much too soon.

How pathetic it would be to be remembered by future generations for participating in the hennish expectation of an "outright apology" to the nation.

She seems to want understanding, if not an outright apology, from the people she questions.

Akihito expressed his "deep sadness about this" but stopped short of issuing an outright apology.

But he stopped short of issuing an outright apology for the illicit relationship or for lying about it to his family, his staff and the nation.