Japan minister resigns over gaffe

TOKYO - A week into his new job, Japan's disaster reconstruction minister resigned on Tuesday for remarks widely criticized as offensive during a visit to the tsunami-devastated northeastern coast.

"I felt that I was the person closest to the disaster victims," teary-eyed Ryu Matsumoto said in his farewell speech. "But I sincerely apologize that my words hurt their feelings because they were insufficient or rough."

In meetings with local governors over the weekend, Matsumoto's words were regarded as arrogant and uncaring, angering local residents and political opponents.