TOKYO, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, a main critic of Japan's anti-terrorism refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, offered to resign Sunday.
Ozawa offered to step down as leader of the Democratic Party of Japan because of a controversy over forming a grand coalition government with the ruling parties led by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Kyodo news reported.
Ozawa’s offer came after his party leaders decided against accepting his idea of a policy consultation framework with the ruling coalition, the report said.
The criticism against Ozawa within his party is that he did not outright reject the coalition idea when it was proposed by Fukuda.
Ozawa’s departure could increase political uncertainties, stalling key issues in parliament such as renewing the mission allowing Japanese vessels to provide refueling facilities in the Indian Ocean is support of the U.S.-led anti-terrorism operation in and around Afghanistan, the report said. Ozawa in the past has said any such mission should be within the framework of United Nations activities.
Fukuda is looking for ways to break the impasse in Japan’s parliament as his coalition controls only the lower house while the opposition controls the upper house.
