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Japan PM 'calls August election' Japan PM 'calls August election'
(20 minutes later)
Japan's embattled Prime Minister, Taro Aso, will call a general election for 30 August, says public broadcaster NHK. Japan's embattled Prime Minister, Taro Aso, will call a general election for 30 August, say media reports.
The Kyodo news agency reported that Mr Aso had told senior lawmakers in his Liberal Democratic Party parliament would be dissolved on 21 July.
The move comes after Mr Aso's ruling coalition suffered a crucial defeat in local elections in the capital, Tokyo.The move comes after Mr Aso's ruling coalition suffered a crucial defeat in local elections in the capital, Tokyo.
The opposition Democratic Party (DJP) won 54 seats to 38 for Mr Aso's Liberal Democratic Party, ending four decades of dominance in the assembly. The opposition Democratic Party (DJP) won 54 seats to 38 for LDP, ending four decades of dominance in the assembly.
Mr Aso, who has approval ratings of around 20%, had been widely expected to dissolve parliament following the loss.Mr Aso, who has approval ratings of around 20%, had been widely expected to dissolve parliament following the loss.
The defeat could also increase pressure on Mr Aso to quit as LDP leader before the national poll, which must be held before October.The defeat could also increase pressure on Mr Aso to quit as LDP leader before the national poll, which must be held before October.
Election call
Earlier, a senior LDP official, Nobuteru Ishihara, said the party was afraid the results would have a significant impact on the general election.Earlier, a senior LDP official, Nobuteru Ishihara, said the party was afraid the results would have a significant impact on the general election.
The leader of the DJP, Yukio Hatoyama, had called on Mr Aso to "ask for the people's voice by dissolving the lower house and calling a general election".The leader of the DJP, Yukio Hatoyama, had called on Mr Aso to "ask for the people's voice by dissolving the lower house and calling a general election".
But the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says many in Mr Aso's party fear such a move would be political suicide. "In the Tokyo assembly election, people strongly showed their dissatisfaction as a result of how national politics and state politics are being run," he said.
"The voters are saying no both to metropolitan politics and to national politics."
But the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says many in Mr Aso's party fear such calling a snap election would be political suicide.
They would prefer he resigned and a new leader led them in polls closer to the October deadline, says our correspondent.They would prefer he resigned and a new leader led them in polls closer to the October deadline, says our correspondent.
Mr Aso is the fourth prime minister since the last election to the more powerful lower house in 2005.Mr Aso is the fourth prime minister since the last election to the more powerful lower house in 2005.
His LDP party has governed Japan for the past half-century, except for a break of less than a year in the 1990s.His LDP party has governed Japan for the past half-century, except for a break of less than a year in the 1990s.
But the DPJ has promised to break the grip of the bureaucracy on policy making and increase social welfare measures.But the DPJ has promised to break the grip of the bureaucracy on policy making and increase social welfare measures.
Its support, however, has been eroded by fundraising scandals.Its support, however, has been eroded by fundraising scandals.