Majority of Japanese support whaling: poll

TOKYO (Reuters) - Most Japanese support whaling and eating whale meat, a newspaper poll showed on Friday, despite international criticism against annual hunts and images of Japanese vessels harpooning whales off Antarctica.

The same telephone poll, which drew 2,082 responses last weekend, found 56 percent were in favor of eating whale meat while 26 percent were against it.

The standoff was resolved after the activists, an Australian and a Briton, were handed over to an Australian fisheries icebreaker.

Australia released on Thursday pictures of whales being killed by Japan in the Southern Ocean, prompting accusations from Tokyo that it was trying to fan a diplomatic confrontation.

Japan said on Friday Tokyo would send a letter of protest over the photos and comments by Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who said he had "felt a bit of a sick feeling" after seeing them.

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised a stronger effort to try to stop Japan's whaling program, though both countries have agreed not to let the issue hurt bilateral ties.

(Reporting by Chisa Fujioka; Editing by David Fogarty)