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Opposition party leaders quit(UPI Top Stories Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Two leaders of the Democratic Party of Japan, the top opposition group, have resigned over false payoff allegations against a ruling party member. Leaving the party leadership were President Seiji Maehara and Secretary-General Yukio Hatoyama, Voice of America reports. They took responsibility after a freelance journalist admitted giving a party lawmaker a bogus e-mail alleging a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party had taken money from a troubled company, the report said. The message was alleged to have been written by the founder of an internet company. The founder is in jail awaiting prosecution on fraud charges. Some analysts saw the resignations as giving an opportunity to the left-centrist DPJ to do better in the next election. Separately, the Kyodo news agency reported that Ichiro Ozawa, former vice president, and Naoto Kan, two-time former party leader, have been cited as possible successors to Maehara. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] |