(AP Photo)TOKYO -- Embattled Japanese Defence Minister Tomomi Inada on Friday said she was resigning, after a series of gaffes, missteps and a cover-up at her ministry that have contributed to a sharp plunge in public support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Support for the prime minister has sunk below 30% in some polls, due to scandals over suspected cronyism and a view among many voters that he and his aides took them for granted. Speaking to reporters after Inada announced her resignation at a separate news conference, Mr Abe apologised "to the people from my heart". The resignation coincided with a report of an investigation into suspicions that defence ministry officials tried to hide logs showing worsening security in South Sudan, where Japanese troops joined in a US-led peacekeeping operation. No Japanese troops have died in combat since World War Two and the growing chaos in South Sudan fuelled concern.

Source: Bangkok Post July 28, 2017 04:07 UTC