Aso aide resigns

TOKYO, May 13 (UPI) -- A close aide of Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso resigned Wednesday after a magazine report accused him of an illicit affair, sources told Kyodo news.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshitada Konoike, 68, an upper house member from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, cited "health problems" for his decision, which Kyodo reported could be a setback for the Aso government.

The report quoted government sources as saying Konoike was hospitalized Tuesday for interstitial pneumonia.

Kyodo said the report carried by the weekly magazine had alleged Konoike and the woman with whom he was allegedly having an affair stayed at a hot spring resort in April.