news20100602cnn

[Top stories] from [CNN.com]

[CNN > Asia]
June 2, 2010 -- Updated 0322 GMT (1122 HKT)
By the CNN Wire Staff
Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama to resign
｛日本の鳩山由紀夫総理大臣が辞任表明｝

{Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has been under pressure after backtracking on a promise to move an unpopular U.S. Marine base from Okinawa Island.}
｛日本の鳩山総理大臣、約束した’不人気の米国海兵隊基地を沖縄から移設’の撤回で、引責の状況下にあった｝

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
> Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to resign after just eight months in office
｛鳩山総理大臣がわずか８か月の在職で辞任｝
> He was under pressure after backtracking on pledge to move U.S. army base from Okinawa
｛総理大臣、公約の’沖縄から米国陸軍基地を移設’の撤回で、責任を求められていた｝
> Japan's Social Democratic Party leaves coalition government
｛日本の社民党が連立政権から離脱｝
> Party failed to support government's decision not to move U.S. base
｛社民党、’米国基地を移設しない’という政府決定で連立を解消｝

(CNN) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told parliamentary officials Wednesday he will resign. "I'm going to step down," Hatoyama announced in a live broadcast on Japanese TV NHK.

Hatoyama, who took office in September, has faced criticism after backtracking on a promise to move an unpopular U.S. Marine base from Okinawa to ease the burden of the island, which hosts the majority of the United States military presence in Japan.

His Democratic Party of Japan formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). On Sunday, SDP leader Mizuho Fukushima said the party would leave the coalition government over the dispute regarding the relocation of the base.

Fukishima, formerly the Minister of Consumers, was let go from Hatoyama's Cabinet on Friday because she and her party failed to support the government's decision not to move the U.S. Futenma Air Base from Okinawa Island.

The SDP's departure does not threaten the overwhelming majority of the Democratic Party of Japan in the lower house of government, but weakens the party's negotiating power in the upper house. It also threatened Hatoyama's political position ahead of upper house elections, scheduled for this summer.