Japan PM to meet Ozawa amid feud concerns

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa will meet on Saturday as concern mounts about a feud that threatens to widen a split in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

The bickering is distracting the government from tackling tough policy decisions and complicating prospects for passing laws, including bills needed to implement the budget for the fiscal year from April 1, set to be approved by the cabinet later on Friday.

On Monday, Ozawa refused a demand by Kan to appear at a parliamentary ethics panel over a funding scandal that has helped slash government support to just over 20 percent.