TOKYO, JAPAN - APPLE is offering to replace faulty batteries in iPod nanos in Japan following a government warning that the popular music players may pose a fire hazard, a company spokesman said on Thursday.

'We will replace batteries of the first-generation iPod nanos with new ones if customers find that the batteries overheat,' the Apple Japan spokesman said.

The offer is only for batteries with overheating problems and is not a full recall, he said.

The economy, trade and industry ministry on Tuesday warned users of iPod nanos of a potential fire risk after it received two new reports of minor fires in August in Tokyo caused by overheating iPod nanos.

'We are still investigating the cause of the glitch, but we've identified one particular supplier of the batteries,' the spokesman said.

Japan had already launched an investigation in March after another Apple iPod nano sent out sparks.

According to the ministry, Apple Computer has been notified of a total of 17 overheating cases in Japan. Out of those, two users suffered minor burns.

About 1.81 million iPod nanos sold in Japan between September 2005 and September 2006 are have a potential risk of fire, the ministry said.

The US computer giant has already warned that iPod, iPod nano or iPod shuffle may generate excess heat while being charged in certain carry cases.

Lithium ion batteries, which Apple uses for iPods, are common in consumer electronics, such as mobile telephones and personal computers.

However, major battery makers, including electronics giant Sony Corp., have occasionally been forced to recall their lithium ion battery packs after reports of overheating and fire. -- AFP