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| Abe 'sorry' for sudden departure | Abe 'sorry' for sudden departure |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has apologised for his sudden resignation 12 days ago, which threw the country into political confusion. | |
| He spoke from hospital in Tokyo, where he has been treated for stress-related stomach problems since quitting. | He spoke from hospital in Tokyo, where he has been treated for stress-related stomach problems since quitting. |
| Yasuo Fukuda, 71, was chosen to replace him by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Sunday. | Yasuo Fukuda, 71, was chosen to replace him by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Sunday. |
| Mr Fukuda, who has already begun filling party posts, is expected to be made PM by parliament on Tuesday. | Mr Fukuda, who has already begun filling party posts, is expected to be made PM by parliament on Tuesday. |
| I decided that I did not have the strength to meet my responsibilities as prime minister Shinzo Abe | I decided that I did not have the strength to meet my responsibilities as prime minister Shinzo Abe |
| Mr Abe, 53, looked frail and was flanked by two doctors as he read his statement from hospital. | Mr Abe, 53, looked frail and was flanked by two doctors as he read his statement from hospital. |
| "I would like to apologise to the people for causing trouble to them," he told the televised news conference. | "I would like to apologise to the people for causing trouble to them," he told the televised news conference. |
| "I regret that I couldn't meet people's expectations." | "I regret that I couldn't meet people's expectations." |
| 'Revive trust' | 'Revive trust' |
| His resignation on 12 September was unexpected, although his year-long premiership had been plagued by ministerial scandals that culminated in disastrous upper house election losses in July. | His resignation on 12 September was unexpected, although his year-long premiership had been plagued by ministerial scandals that culminated in disastrous upper house election losses in July. |
| Mr Abe said he regretted not being more open about his health problems when he quit. He entered hospital the day after stepping down. | Mr Abe said he regretted not being more open about his health problems when he quit. He entered hospital the day after stepping down. |
| Yasuo Fukuda is due to be made PM on Tuesday | Yasuo Fukuda is due to be made PM on Tuesday |
| "After seeing my health deteriorate over the past month, I finally came to the conclusion that I had reached a physical limit," he said. | "After seeing my health deteriorate over the past month, I finally came to the conclusion that I had reached a physical limit," he said. |
| "I decided that I did not have the strength to meet my responsibilities as prime minister." | "I decided that I did not have the strength to meet my responsibilities as prime minister." |
| He is expected to attend Tuesday's parliamentary session, which is virtually guaranteed to vote in Mr Fukuda as his successor because of the LDP's control of the powerful lower house. | He is expected to attend Tuesday's parliamentary session, which is virtually guaranteed to vote in Mr Fukuda as his successor because of the LDP's control of the powerful lower house. |
| Earlier in the day, Mr Fukuda named three allies for the party's top positions. | Earlier in the day, Mr Fukuda named three allies for the party's top positions. |
| Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki will replace Taro Aso, who ran against Mr Fukuda for the party leadership, as party secretary-general - the number two position. | Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki will replace Taro Aso, who ran against Mr Fukuda for the party leadership, as party secretary-general - the number two position. |
| Former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki will head the party's policy think-tank, while former Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai will remain in place as head of the party's General Council. | Former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki will head the party's policy think-tank, while former Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai will remain in place as head of the party's General Council. |
| "I placed the right people in the right positions considering the current political situation," Mr Fukuda said. | "I placed the right people in the right positions considering the current political situation," Mr Fukuda said. |
| "We have to revive trust in politics. Unless everybody takes firm action, it will be difficult for us to get through the current circumstances." | "We have to revive trust in politics. Unless everybody takes firm action, it will be difficult for us to get through the current circumstances." |