Kan rejects opposition calls to resign; vows to bring nuclear crisis under control (JAPAN)

Prime Minister Naoto Kan answers a question at the Diet on May 31. (Mainichi)

Prime Minister Naoto Kan rejected calls for his resignation by the largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on May 31, saying he cannot abandon his duty to bring the ongoing catastrophe at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant under control and overcome the national crisis.

He made the remarks in response to a question from LDP lawmaker Hidenao Nakagawa at a session of the House of Representatives' special panel on reconstruction after the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

"I cannot abandon responsibility for what I have to do now. It is my role to settle the nuclear power accident (and overcome the crises)," Kan told the Diet session. "I am determined to fulfill that responsibility."

Nakagawa, a former LDP secretary-general, blasted the Kan government for its handling of the nuclear disaster and said, "Regrettably, we have to give you the coup de grace. We have no choice but to submit a no-confidence motion against your Cabinet."

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110531p2a00m0na014000c.html

...would not be a good thing. Especially for the DPJ!