Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday he was resigning over his broken campaign promise to move a U.S. Marine base off the southern island of Okinawa.
The prime minister had faced growing pressure from within his own party to resign ahead of July's upper house elections. His approval ratings had plummeted over his bungled handling of the relocation of the Marine Air Station Futenma, reinforcing his public image as an indecisive leader.
Hatoyama is the fourth Japanese prime minister to resign in four years.
Until Tuesday night, Hatoyama insisted he would stay on while intermittently holding talks with key members of his Democratic Party of Japan.
But on Wednesday morning, after eight months in office, Hatoyama faced the nation to say he was stepping down.
"Since last year's elections, I tried to change politics in which the people of Japan would be the main characters," he told a news conference broadcast nationwide. But he conceded his efforts weren't understood.
"That's mainly because of my failings," he said.
You might also like this:
Ted Koppel's son, 40, found dead in NYC apartment
read full story... 
Gunmen kill 5 in Pakistan hospital
read full story... 
U.S. military: Air strike kills Taliban leader in Kandahar
read full story... 
Lakers' Bynum has knee drained before NBA finals
read full story... 
Flawless Franchitti gets a break to win Indy
read full story...
Posted May 31, 2010
MMA 114: Rampage vs Evans
Henin beats Sharapova at French Open for last 16 spot
read full story... 
Halladay throws perfect game, beats Marlins 1-0
read full story... 
Artist Louise Bourgeois dies in New York at 98
read full story... 
Temptations singer dies at 58
read full story... 
'Shrek' better than 'Sex' with $43M at box office
read full story... 
Celine Dion pregnant again at last — with twins
read full story... 
Pop star Ke$ha sued by former managers in NYC
read full story... 
$100 Million 'scareware' CEO Was Already a Fugitive
read full story...
No comments:
Post a Comment