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| Japanese PM dissolves parliament | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso has dissolved parliament and called a national election on 30 August, after gaining official cabinet backing. | |
| Mr Aso called the elections early after his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost control of Tokyo's municipal assembly. | Mr Aso called the elections early after his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost control of Tokyo's municipal assembly. |
| Opinion polls suggest that the LDP could lose heavily to the opposition Democratic Party in the upcoming vote. | Opinion polls suggest that the LDP could lose heavily to the opposition Democratic Party in the upcoming vote. |
| A win for the Democratic Party would end five decades of almost uninterrupted rule by the LDP. | A win for the Democratic Party would end five decades of almost uninterrupted rule by the LDP. |
| On Tuesday morning, his cabinet gave its formal backing to Mr Aso's plan. | |
| Japan is in a deep recession and correspondents say that at times the prime minister has appeared indecisive. | Japan is in a deep recession and correspondents say that at times the prime minister has appeared indecisive. |
| Last week, Mr Aso survived a no-confidence motion put forward by the opposition in the lower house. But the upper house, which is dominated by the opposition, passed a similar motion. | Last week, Mr Aso survived a no-confidence motion put forward by the opposition in the lower house. But the upper house, which is dominated by the opposition, passed a similar motion. |
| Mr Aso's position had been further weakened after the LDP lost control of Tokyo city council in elections on 12 July. | Mr Aso's position had been further weakened after the LDP lost control of Tokyo city council in elections on 12 July. |
| LDP rebels had sought to remove him before he could dissolve parliament, believing he is leading them to an historic defeat. | LDP rebels had sought to remove him before he could dissolve parliament, believing he is leading them to an historic defeat. |
| Polls published by the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers on Monday suggested that support for Mr Aso had continued to decline since previous surveys last month. | Polls published by the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers on Monday suggested that support for Mr Aso had continued to decline since previous surveys last month. |
| They show him trailing Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama. | They show him trailing Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama. |
| Correspondents say the Democratic Party favours more independence from the US, a greater Japanese contribution to peacekeeping missions, and a smaller role for government. | Correspondents say the Democratic Party favours more independence from the US, a greater Japanese contribution to peacekeeping missions, and a smaller role for government. |
| Mr Aso is the fourth prime minister since the party won the last election to the more powerful lower house of parliament in 2005. | Mr Aso is the fourth prime minister since the party won the last election to the more powerful lower house of parliament in 2005. |