Koizumi to suspend royal ascension bill

TOKYO, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will delay submitting a bill allowing women to succeed to the throne, in light of news of a royal pregnancy.

The decision to postpone the controversial bill, which would allow a female monarch to rule, followed Tuesday's news that Princess Kiko, wife of Emperor Akihito's second son, Prince Akishino, is pregnant, raising hopes that a male heir may yet be born.

"Many people, including those within the ruling party, share the view that we should quietly watch this happy event," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told a news conference, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Friday.

The government had been preparing a bill to allow females and their descendants to ascend the imperial throne, as no male heir has been born to the royal family since 1965. In a January policy speech, Koizumi had pledged to submit the bill during the current session of the Diet.

However, Koizumi and Abe reportedly concluded Thursday afternoon that it was inadvisable to submit the bill to the regular Diet session, which runs through June.

The princess is due to give birth in September or October. Koizumi is expected to step down in September.