TOKYO, July 13 -- Ryutaro Hashimoto, moments after saying he was offering his resignation as prime minister, said he will cancel state visits to France and the United States. Hashimoto's decision to remove himself from the prime minister's spot comes after defeats suffered by his Liberal Democratic Party in upper house parliamentary elections.
At a news conference today he said he would call French President Jacques Chirac and U.S. President Bill Clinton to formally cancel the state visits. Hashimoto was to leave for Paris July 19 for meetings with Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Hashimoto was to travel to Washington July 21 to meet with Clinton. Hasimoto's party suffered a stinging defeat Sunday in upper house parliamentary elections. Japan's Kyodo News quotes LDP sources saying Hashimoto has decided to quit as prime minister due to the drubbing in the election for half of the seats in the House of Councellors. His party won 44 of 126 seats contested, after holding 61 of those seats before the election. The party sources tell Kyodo that Hashimoto said to LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato he will resign to take the blame for his party's setback. Hashimoto has told journalists, 'It's all my fault.' Hashimoto, who rose to power in January 1996, is expected to announce his resignation as LDP president, and, hence, prime minister, at a meeting of LDP executive members Monday afternoon and at a press conference after that. ---
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