TOKYO Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori urged Japanese doctors Friday not to participate in an international project to clone a human being, although the government has no legal authority to stop them, an official said.

"Although this is a matter for foreign countries, (human cloning) is not desirable from the viewpoint of upholding human dignity," Mori was quoted by the official as saying.

The premier instructed the Science and Technology Ministry and the Health Ministry to distribute pamphlets on the new Japanese law banning human cloning to universities and hospital.

The law, which takes effect in June, makes it a criminal offense to clone a human being, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million yen (87,000 dollars), the AFP said.

But it only covers offences related to human cloning attempts committed in Japan.

"We have no legal authority to punish doctors and researchers who participate in cloning projects outside Japan," said the official from the Science and Technology Ministry.

"We can only talk them out of joining international human cloning projects. We have no other means to stop that," he admitted.

An international private consortium is seeking to clone a human being within the next two years, developing a technique they say would be reserved for helping infertile couples.

A number of scientists have added their names and expertise to the project, founded by Italian physician Severino Antinori, known for his controversial efforts to help post-menopausal women become pregnant.