August 01, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 16, 1428

TOKYO, July 31: Japan's resurgent opposition on Tuesday blasted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for staying in office despite an election mauling and vowed to fight to stop him extending support to the US military in Afghanistan.

Abe, an outspoken conservative who supports a larger military role for officially pacifist Japan, suffered a major setback on Sunday as voters stripped his party of control over the upper house of parliament.

A poll said nearly half of Japanese voters believed Abe should step down to take responsibility. But he has vowed to stay in office, insisting that voters supported his broader agenda despite their anger over scandals.

Abe “is trying to get away with such senseless conduct, trying to keep his cabinet in charge even after his party lost the majority,” said Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the main opposition centre-left Democratic Party of Japan.

“I don't think he will gain people's support and understanding by doing something so selfish,” Ozawa said.

Abe's Liberal Democrats, who have ruled Japan for most of the past 50 years, maintain a large majority in the more powerful lower house, meaning they can stay in power and override votes by the opposition-led upper house.

But the opposition made clear it would work against any extension of laws allowing Japanese ships to provide fuel and other logistical support to US-led forces in Afghanistan.

“We have opposed the bills in the past. There is no way we will turn around and support them now,” Ozawa said. “If opposition parties cooperate, we could pass a bill that states our position.” US Ambassador Thomas Schieffer voiced hope that the opposition would support the Indian Ocean mission, telling reporters that Japan has made “a real contribution and a positive impact in the war on terrorism.” Japan has been constitutionally prohibited from using its armed forces since defeat in World War II. Abe, Japan's first premier born after the war, has made rewriting the constitution a priority.

Japan passed laws after the September 11, 2001 attacks that allowed it to participate in the US-led “war on terrorism,” paving the way for the Indian Ocean mission.

Defence Minister Yuriko Koike has called for Japan to extend the law when it expires on November 1, although the government said no decision had yet been taken.

The groundbreaking mission led to the historic deployment of Japanese forces to Iraq.

Japan withdrew the troops last year but continues to fly goods and personnel into the country on behalf of the US-led coalition and United Nations.

The Japanese parliament extended the Iraq mission, which the opposition is also against, just ahead of the election.

The conservative Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said the legislation on the Indian Ocean mission would be a key test on whether the opposition party was “sensible and responsible.” “If confusion arises from legislative procedures taken to extend the law, it could send the international community a garbled message about Japan's attitude toward the anti-terrorism campaign,” the best-selling daily said in an editorial.

A Kyodo News survey said 49.5 per cent of Japanese voters believed Abe should step down, more than those who supported him.

Abe has said he would reshuffle his cabinet.

He suggested on Tuesday he would remove farm minister Norihiko Akagi, whose money scandals have been a particular embarrassment as his under-fire predecessor had committed suicide.“I will make an overhaul of the personnel line-up including Agriculture Minister Akagi,” Abe told reporters.—AFP