Japan: Kan survives no-confidence motion

TOKYO, June 2 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan Thursday beat back a no-confidence motion by announcing ahead of a vote he would leave once the nuclear crisis is contained.

The embattled leader, who has been in office for only a year, had faced the no-confidence motion brought by opposition Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers unhappy with his handling of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, set off by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

His announcement to quit prior to the vote on the motion helped change the minds of several members of the lower house of parliament, Kyodo News reported.

"I want the younger generation to take over my duties after I fulfill the role I should play'' in containing the disaster and in the reconstruction effort, Kan told a meeting of his ruling party.

The BBC reported Thursday's developments gave Kan a few more months to remain in office, but the rebellion in his party may have further weakened him as some senior party members had indicated their support for the motion.