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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Japan's opposition leader to quit | Japan's opposition leader to quit |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Japanese opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa has announced his resignation. | Japanese opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa has announced his resignation. |
| Mr Ozawa had been under pressure to go after a close aide was charged in a fundraising scandal in March. | Mr Ozawa had been under pressure to go after a close aide was charged in a fundraising scandal in March. |
| Before the scandal broke, Mr Ozawa was thought likely to unseat the flailing prime minister, Taro Aso, in elections later this year. | Before the scandal broke, Mr Ozawa was thought likely to unseat the flailing prime minister, Taro Aso, in elections later this year. |
| But opinion polls have suggested that his popularity has waned as a result of the scandal, and in recent weeks he has faced increasing calls to quit. | But opinion polls have suggested that his popularity has waned as a result of the scandal, and in recent weeks he has faced increasing calls to quit. |
| "I have decided to sacrifice myself and resign as party leader, to strengthen the unity of the party," Mr Ozawa told a news conference. | "I have decided to sacrifice myself and resign as party leader, to strengthen the unity of the party," Mr Ozawa told a news conference. |
| He said he did not want to be a burden on the Democrat Party ahead of the looming elections, although he insisted that he had not been personally implicated in any wrongdoing. | He said he did not want to be a burden on the Democrat Party ahead of the looming elections, although he insisted that he had not been personally implicated in any wrongdoing. |
| "I believe it is imperative that we win the elections," Mr Ozawa said. "I do not want to impede that in any way." | "I believe it is imperative that we win the elections," Mr Ozawa said. "I do not want to impede that in any way." |
| Tokyo prosecutors have alleged Mr Ozawa's political funding organisation received 21 million yen ($216,000; £142,000) in illegal donations from Nishimatsu Construction between 2003-07. | Tokyo prosecutors have alleged Mr Ozawa's political funding organisation received 21 million yen ($216,000; £142,000) in illegal donations from Nishimatsu Construction between 2003-07. |
| One of his senior aides has been charged with political funding law violations, and two company executives have also been arrested. | One of his senior aides has been charged with political funding law violations, and two company executives have also been arrested. |
| Loss of confidence | Loss of confidence |
| Just a few months ago, the Democratic Party was confident of victory in the next general election, which must be called by the end of September. | Just a few months ago, the Democratic Party was confident of victory in the next general election, which must be called by the end of September. |
| Such a victory would end almost 50 years of unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which is facing huge voter discontent amid the worsening economic gloom. | Such a victory would end almost 50 years of unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which is facing huge voter discontent amid the worsening economic gloom. |
| But ever since the funding scandal broke, Mr Ozawa has been under pressure to quit. | But ever since the funding scandal broke, Mr Ozawa has been under pressure to quit. |
| Mr Ozawa left the LDP in 1993 after losing a power struggle and joined the Democrats after they formed in 1998. | Mr Ozawa left the LDP in 1993 after losing a power struggle and joined the Democrats after they formed in 1998. |
| Commentators say he is a shrewd strategist but has been criticised for what some see as a high-handed attitude. | Commentators say he is a shrewd strategist but has been criticised for what some see as a high-handed attitude. |