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| Japanese PM admitted to hospital | Japanese PM admitted to hospital |
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| Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been admitted to hospital, a day after announcing his resignation. | Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been admitted to hospital, a day after announcing his resignation. |
| Doctors said Mr Abe was being treated for a stomach complaint probably caused by extreme exhaustion and stress. | Doctors said Mr Abe was being treated for a stomach complaint probably caused by extreme exhaustion and stress. |
| Japan's governing party has announced it will choose a successor to Mr Abe on 23 September. | Japan's governing party has announced it will choose a successor to Mr Abe on 23 September. |
| Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga has said he will stand, but the most likely candidate, former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, has yet to make an announcement. | Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga has said he will stand, but the most likely candidate, former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, has yet to make an announcement. |
| The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader is guaranteed to become prime minister, because the party controls parliament's lower house. | The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader is guaranteed to become prime minister, because the party controls parliament's lower house. |
| 'Extreme fatigue' | |
| Mr Abe had been facing growing calls to quit since his party lost upper house elections in July, and opinion polls showed he was increasingly unpopular. | Mr Abe had been facing growing calls to quit since his party lost upper house elections in July, and opinion polls showed he was increasingly unpopular. |
| But there has also been speculation that health problems were partly behind his decision to step down. | But there has also been speculation that health problems were partly behind his decision to step down. |
| "I hear that the doctor diagnosed him as suffering from extreme fatigue," Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano told reporters after Mr Abe was admitted to hospital. | "I hear that the doctor diagnosed him as suffering from extreme fatigue," Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano told reporters after Mr Abe was admitted to hospital. |
| It is unclear whether he will be able to continue his duties until a successor is chosen, or whether a temporary head of government may have to be appointed. | It is unclear whether he will be able to continue his duties until a successor is chosen, or whether a temporary head of government may have to be appointed. |
| Mr Abe's decision on Wednesday triggered surprise and criticism. | Mr Abe's decision on Wednesday triggered surprise and criticism. |
| ROAD TO RESIGNATION Sept 2006: Shinzo Abe is elected as PM, with long agenda of reformsEarly 2007: Series of scandals involving senior ministers July 2007: LDP loses control of Japan's upper house for the first time in its history.27 Aug: Abe reshuffles his Cabinet9 Sept: Abe stakes his job on extending Japan's support of US-led mission in Afghanistan12 Sept: Abe announces he is stepping down href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6992661.stm">Possible contenders Abe's road to resignation He had defied calls for his resignation in the wake of the disastrous July polls and only two weeks ago reshuffled his Cabinet. | |
| But as well as his heatlh problems, Mr Abe said that his decision to step down was based on political realities resulting from the loss of the upper house. | But as well as his heatlh problems, Mr Abe said that his decision to step down was based on political realities resulting from the loss of the upper house. |
| The result left the opposition in a position to block key pieces of legislation, such as the extension of Japan's naval mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan. | The result left the opposition in a position to block key pieces of legislation, such as the extension of Japan's naval mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan. |
| "If I delay my decision to step down, the government will face greater difficulties in parliament," Mr Abe said. | "If I delay my decision to step down, the government will face greater difficulties in parliament," Mr Abe said. |
| 'Ask the voters' | 'Ask the voters' |
| Taro Aso, a former foreign minister who is now the LDP secretary general, is seen as the strongest contender to take over from Mr Abe. | Taro Aso, a former foreign minister who is now the LDP secretary general, is seen as the strongest contender to take over from Mr Abe. |
| Another potential candidate is former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who ran against Mr Abe and Mr Aso for the top job in September 2006. | Another potential candidate is former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who ran against Mr Abe and Mr Aso for the top job in September 2006. |
| Other names mentioned include veteran lawmaker and former government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda and the current government spokesman, Kaoru Yosano. | Other names mentioned include veteran lawmaker and former government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda and the current government spokesman, Kaoru Yosano. |
| The election of a party leader has been set for 23 September, but the LDP is under pressure to go further and call a snap election. | The election of a party leader has been set for 23 September, but the LDP is under pressure to go further and call a snap election. |
| "With the LDP government thrown into this much confusion, the voters should be asked in the proper fashion who their choice for leader is in a general election," the Asahi newspaper said in an editorial. | "With the LDP government thrown into this much confusion, the voters should be asked in the proper fashion who their choice for leader is in a general election," the Asahi newspaper said in an editorial. |
| "That is the only way to bring back politics based on the people's trust." | "That is the only way to bring back politics based on the people's trust." |