Japanese PM rules out reshuffle

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Japanese leader Yasuo Fukuda has ruled out a cabinet reshuffle to rally public support, instead pledging more efforts to pass a controversial navy bill.

In his first news conference of the year, Mr Fukuda apologised for high profile blunders that have seen his approval rating slide to 35%.

But he renewed his promise to pass a law allowing Japan's navy to continue to support US forces in Afghanistan.

The issue caused deadlock in parliament after the opposition blocked the bill.

But Mr Fukuda promised to work with his opponents to find a solution.

'Distorted parliament'

Mr Fukuda took office in September after his predecessor Shinzo Abe resigned following disastrous upper house polls which left the opposition in control of the chamber.

"Looking back on these 100 days [since taking office], frankly, not everything went smoothly," he told journalists.

"That was partly because of the 'distorted parliament'."

The US wants Japan to its refuelling activities

The new prime minister is struggling to pass a bill that would allow Japanese vessels to refuel US warships involved in conflict in Afghanistan.

Japanese vessels have been supporting US-led coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since 2001, but returned home at the end of October when the mandate for their mission expired.

Mr Fukuda wants the mission to resume, but the opposition is blocking it in the upper house. Parliament has been extended until 15 January amid the deadlock.

"I would like to get our country's fuelling vessel back to work as quickly as possible and to show Japan's stance of working hard with other countries for the sake of the world," he said.

Mr Fukuda could force through the bill using his two-thirds majority in the lower house.

But this would be a rare move which, analysts say, could trigger a public backlash against a government which is already facing plummeting support.

Mr Fukuda also addressed the issue of millions of lost pension records - a scandal that has caused huge public concern.

"The political responsibility is heavy," he said. "I offer my apologies."

He promised to work to restore the credibility of the system.