Fresh Setback for Japan PMEmbattled Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has received another blow ahead of Monday's no-confidence vote which threatens to split his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).Two vice-ministers belonging to factions led by Mr Mori's leading challenger, Koichi Kato, have resigned. Reports say they did so in order to vote in favour of the no-confidence motion. Mr Kato, the leader of the LDP's second largest faction, has threatened to vote with the opposition unless the gaffe-prone Mr Mori quits. But the prime minister said on Sunday there was no question of his resigning without a fight. "It's obvious that I would not step down before the voting takes place in parliament," he told a fellow LDP politician. Ruling LDP leaders met behind closed doors on Sunday, trying to reach a deal to stave off defeat by the rebels. If Mr Mori loses the vote, he will have to step down or call a general election within 10 days. Earlier on Sunday, the LDP Secretary-General, Hirmou Nonaka, said Mr Mori might stand down if the rebels dropped their threat to topple the government. |
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