November 18, 2008	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 19, 1429

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso’s political troubles deepened on Monday as a poll showed his approval rating has dropped below 30 percent and the opposition threatened to boycott parliamentary proceedings.

Opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa told Aso in a one-on-one meeting that his Democratic Party would refuse to support the extension of a naval support mission for US-led military operations in Afghanistan, the premier said.

The opposition also decided to boycott parliamentary deliberations from Tuesday, deepening the legislative deadlock, according to local media. The opposition toughened its stance amid concerns that the party’s political momentum will fade as the ruling bloc puts off elections, Jiji Press said.

A new poll meanwhile showed a slump in Aso’s approval rating after his economic rescue plan and lavish social life left voters unimpressed. Support for Aso’s cabinet has fallen to 29.6 per cent, down from more than 40 per cent in early October and about 50 per cent soon after he took office in late September, according to television network ANN.

Disapproval soared to 46.8 per cent from about 37 per cent in October, a weekend poll of 1,000 adults found. Aso has come under criticism for his frequent visits to expensive hotel bars while many voters are struggling through Japan’s first recession in seven years.—AFP