Japan PM likely to step down by August

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Japan PM likely to step down by August - media

RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED June 05, 2011

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is likely to leave his post by this August, the Kyodo news agency said on Saturday.

"Some media reports make it seem as if (Mr. Kan) wants to stick around longer, but I'm sure that isn't his intention," Yukio Edano, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, told reporters in Tokyo.

Japan's opposition parties submitted no-confidence motion against Kan on Wednesday, in a bid to bring down the prime minister due to his unsatisfactory handling of post-quake crisis.

Kan, already Japan's fifth premier in as many years, is struggling to contain nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima plant and find ways to pay for rebuilding after a massive March earthquake and tsunami.

Ruling and opposition lawmakers slammed Kan on Friday, as he hinted that he would remain in power until January.

Kyodo said that Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, were possible candidates to replace Kan.

Topics: Asia, Japan

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