Japan opposition chief throws in towel

TOKYO: Japan's top opposition leader announced yesterday that he will resign to keep a political funding scandal from pulling down his party in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan, told a news conference he had decided to resign because he does not want the scandal involving one of his aides to cloud the elections, which must be held by Sept 10.

"I deeply apologize," he said. "I must do this for myself, for the people and for my party."