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Japan's Prime Minister Steps Down Over Base Row


Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won a landslide victory in August elections.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won a landslide victory in August elections.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has announced in a nationally broadcast news conference that he is resigning.

Hatoyama said he would step down over his broken campaign promise to move a U.S. Marine base off the southern island of Okinawa.

After eight months in office, the embattled prime minister has faced growing pressure from within his own party to resign ahead of July elections.

His approval ratings have plummeted over the bungling of handling the Marine Air Station Futenma.

compiled from agency reports

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