Naoto Kan resigns as Japan PM

From: AlJazeeraEnglish | Aug 26, 2011

Naoto Kan has resigned as prime minister of Japan almost one year after assuming office. The move does not come as a surprise in a country that has seen five prime ministers in the past four years.

Kan and Yukio Hatoyama, his predecessor, co-founded the Democratic Party of Japan, and together led it to election victory in 2009, ending nearly six decade rule by Liberal Democratic Party.

Kan has been criticised for his handling of the post-tsunami Japan especially the nuclear crisis.

He lost support even in his own party and last month offered to step down.