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| Japan's embattled PM to step down | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is to announce that he intends to resign, according to senior ruling party officials. | |
| Mr Abe has faced growing calls for his resignation since his Liberal Democrat party lost elections to the upper house of parliament in July. | Mr Abe has faced growing calls for his resignation since his Liberal Democrat party lost elections to the upper house of parliament in July. |
| But he has so far resisted, saying he wanted to push through reforms. | But he has so far resisted, saying he wanted to push through reforms. |
| On Sunday he staked his job on extending Japan's support of the US-led mission in Afghanistan, beyond a current November deadline. | On Sunday he staked his job on extending Japan's support of the US-led mission in Afghanistan, beyond a current November deadline. |
| Opposition parties have vowed to delay the measure. | Opposition parties have vowed to delay the measure. |
| Mr Abe, who is seen as a nationalist, took over as prime minister a year ago. At 52, he was Japan's youngest post-war head of government. | Mr Abe, who is seen as a nationalist, took over as prime minister a year ago. At 52, he was Japan's youngest post-war head of government. |
| But his poll ratings have plummeted amid a row over pensions and a series of financial scandals involving cabinet ministers. | |
| Mr Abe is expected to hold a news conference at 1400 local time (0500GMT). | Mr Abe is expected to hold a news conference at 1400 local time (0500GMT). |