Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday announced he would resign as a premier after failing to win support for his policy to continue providing logistics support for US-led military efforts in Afghanistan. Abe, 52, the first Japanese prime minister born after the World War II, decided to step down because he failed to receive support from the opposition bloc, led by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), to extend Japan's mission to refuel allied warships in the Indian Ocean.
Japan's assistance to the US-led military operations in Afghanistan was considered vital, and Abe put his premiership at risk in the battle to continue the policy.
"The refueling mission is a contribution to the international community, and it is my responsibility to continue the fight against terrorism," Abe said at his resignation press conference.
But as long as he remains in office, the DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa has indicated he would not agree to meet and discuss legislation to continue the refueling policy, which expires on November 1.
The DPJ, which holds the majority in the House of Councillors, planned to vote against the extension of the policy in the current diet session. Ozawa refused to meet with Abe Wednesday.
Abe said he found it more feasible to continue the Japanese Self-Defence Forces' aid to refuel allied vessels with a new leader.
The prime minister had apparently told senior officials of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of his intention to resign as premier, according to NHK television news.
The LDP executives requested a postponement of Wednesday's extraordinary parliamentary session, which convened Monday, and held a meeting to discuss Abe's resignation announcement.
Since Abe became prime minister a year ago, Abe's cabinet has been dogged by scandal. Five of his ministers have resigned because of it. One committed suicide.
He reshuffled his cabinet at the end of August in an attempt to restore voters' confidence after his July defeat in the legislative elections.
But the new farm minister resigned amid a finance scandal only a week after he was appointed to Abe's new cabinet.
After the ruling coalition lost the majority of seats in the July upper house election, calls for Abe's resignation had mounted from within the LDP and from the opposition bloc.
