FUKUOKA -- Ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) legislator Seiichi Ota has branded Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Mizuho Fukushima as an "ultra-leftist" in a New Year speech.

"There are ultra-leftist lawyers and some of them are serving as legislators. One of them heads a political party," Ota, a former Management and Coordination Agency director general," told a New Year gathering of his supporters in Fukuoka on Sunday.

He made the remarks when he underscored the importance of anti-terrorism measures following the enactment of the new Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law.

He admitted that he was referring to Fukushima in an interview following the gathering.

The SDP criticized Ota for his remarks.

"It's unacceptable for him to give the public the impression that the party leader is an ultra-leftist, or terrorist, even though he refrained from naming her," SDP Fukuoka chapter Secretary-General Masaaki Toyoshima said. "Since the SDP is also doing its utmost to eliminate terrorism, his remarks will give the public the wrong impression."