Japan's PM steps down

鳩山違背誓言引咎辭職

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday he was resigning over a US Marine base row, AP reported. Hatoyama made a campaign promise that the Futenma base would be moved off the island of Okinawa. But last week, he said he would move the base to a northern part of the island, infuriating residents who want it off Okinawa entirely. Hatoyama's support plunged below 20% after he was blamed for causing the Social Democratic Party to bolt from the ruling coalition due to the base policy. Hatoyama said his management body's alleged false reporting of his political fund has also tainted the image of DPJ, another factor in his decision to resign.

據美聯社報道，日本首相鳩山由紀夫2日宣布，由于未處理好駐日美軍普天間基地搬遷爭執，將引咎辭職。鳩山在競選首相時曾許諾，普天間基地將搬出沖繩島，但上周卻食言，準備將美基地遷到沖繩北部地區，該做法引起民眾不滿。此外，社民黨也因普天間問題宣布退出聯合政府，民眾認為鳩山應對該事負責，導致其支持率跌破20%。鳩山在辭職聲明中表示，他所領導的民主黨陷入政治資金丑聞，是其辭職的另一個原因。

*以上新聞由ChinaDaily雙語手機報提供