This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6990519.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Japanese prime minister resigns | Japanese prime minister resigns |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced he is resigning as Japan's prime minister after a bruising election in July and poor poll ratings. | Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced he is resigning as Japan's prime minister after a bruising election in July and poor poll ratings. |
| Mr Abe had faced growing calls to go since his Liberal Democrats lost the upper house but had held out, insisting he wanted to push through reforms. | Mr Abe had faced growing calls to go since his Liberal Democrats lost the upper house but had held out, insisting he wanted to push through reforms. |
| He went on national TV to say he was leaving because Japan needed a "new leader to fight against terrorism". | He went on national TV to say he was leaving because Japan needed a "new leader to fight against terrorism". |
| Analysts say a fresh general election is unlikely. | Analysts say a fresh general election is unlikely. |
| On Sunday, Mr Abe had staked his job on extending Japan's naval support for the US-led mission in Afghanistan beyond a current November deadline. | On Sunday, Mr Abe had staked his job on extending Japan's naval support for the US-led mission in Afghanistan beyond a current November deadline. |
| Opposition parties had vowed to delay the measure and news of the resignation, coming just before a parliamentary debate, took some analysts by surprise. | Opposition parties had vowed to delay the measure and news of the resignation, coming just before a parliamentary debate, took some analysts by surprise. |
| He said he would risk his job in passing the anti-terrorism law, so I don't know why he is resigning before making the effort Koichi Haji chief economist at NLI Research Institute | He said he would risk his job in passing the anti-terrorism law, so I don't know why he is resigning before making the effort Koichi Haji chief economist at NLI Research Institute |
| 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 plummeted amid a row over pensions and a series of financial scandals involving cabinet ministers. | But his poll ratings plummeted amid a row over pensions and a series of financial scandals involving cabinet ministers. |
| Liberal Democrat secretary-general Taro Aso, a close Abe ally who is seen to share most of his hawkish views on security policy, is tipped by many to succeed Mr Abe. | Liberal Democrat secretary-general Taro Aso, a close Abe ally who is seen to share most of his hawkish views on security policy, is tipped by many to succeed Mr Abe. |
| Heavy blow | Heavy blow |
| Mr Abe did not give a date for his departure from office but said he had instructed party leaders to search for a new premier. | Mr Abe did not give a date for his departure from office but said he had instructed party leaders to search for a new premier. |
| Japan's navy refuels US aircraft in the Indian Ocean | |
| "In the present situation it is difficult to push ahead with effective policies that win the support and trust of the public," he said. | "In the present situation it is difficult to push ahead with effective policies that win the support and trust of the public," he said. |
| "I have decided that we need a change in this situation." | "I have decided that we need a change in this situation." |
| "The people need a leader whom they can support and trust," he added. | "The people need a leader whom they can support and trust," he added. |
| The resignation deals a heavy blow to the Liberal Democrats, Leo Lewis reports from Tokyo. | The resignation deals a heavy blow to the Liberal Democrats, Leo Lewis reports from Tokyo. |
| Mr Abe was appointed by his immediate predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, but he failed to push ahead with the same reformist vigour. | Mr Abe was appointed by his immediate predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, but he failed to push ahead with the same reformist vigour. |
| Cabinet-level resignations and the disastrous defeat at the recent upper house elections left him unable to gain momentum on any of his major policies. | Cabinet-level resignations and the disastrous defeat at the recent upper house elections left him unable to gain momentum on any of his major policies. |
| Many believe that that his anti-terror bill is now likely to fail to pass, Leo Lewis adds. | Many believe that that his anti-terror bill is now likely to fail to pass, Leo Lewis adds. |
| Surprise timing | Surprise timing |
| The yen and stocks have slipped on concerns about political uncertainty, Reuters news agency says. | The yen and stocks have slipped on concerns about political uncertainty, Reuters news agency says. |
| Mr Abe's announcement came as a surprise to some as he had been due to answer questions in parliament later on Wednesday over plans to extend the Japanese naval mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan. | Mr Abe's announcement came as a surprise to some as he had been due to answer questions in parliament later on Wednesday over plans to extend the Japanese naval mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan. |
| Mizuho Fukushima, head of the opposition Social Democratic Party, condemned the timing as "irresponsible", adding that he should have left office after the July election defeat. | Mizuho Fukushima, head of the opposition Social Democratic Party, condemned the timing as "irresponsible", adding that he should have left office after the July election defeat. |
| Koichi Haji, chief economist at NLI Research Institute, also said the move had come as "a huge surprise". | Koichi Haji, chief economist at NLI Research Institute, also said the move had come as "a huge surprise". |
| "He said he would risk his job in passing the anti-terrorism law, so I don't know why he is resigning before making the effort," he said. | "He said he would risk his job in passing the anti-terrorism law, so I don't know why he is resigning before making the effort," he said. |
| Mr Haji suggested the resignation would have only limited impact on economic policy but he did expect stock prices to "get hit" because of the political uncertainty. | Mr Haji suggested the resignation would have only limited impact on economic policy but he did expect stock prices to "get hit" because of the political uncertainty. |