WASHINGTON (AP) — Tobacco companies are urging a federal judge to reject the government's proposed industry-financed corrective statements, calling them "forced public confessions."

The Justice Department countered that the statements need to be strong enough to protect people from future false statements made by cigarette makers. The statements include admissions that the companies lied about the dangers of smoking.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler, who is hearing the case, has already said she wants the industry to pay for corrective statements in various types of ads. Although she has not made a decision on what the statements will say, she said at Monday's hearing that she doesn't have to take the government's proposed statements word-for-word, and will come up with "modifications."

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