Japanese PM deeper in crisis

Kato, Mori's rival, surrounded by reporters

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has been plunged further into crisis, with challenges to his leadership both from outside and from within his own party.

Four main opposition parties confirmed on Wednesday they would submit a no-confidence motion against him.

When l accepted the offer to be prime minister, I said it was a mandate from heaven... I want faithfully to carry out my task

Yoshiro Mori

Officials said they would wait for the next move by the ruling party before deciding on when the motion would be submitted.

Mr Mori is also losing support in his own camp, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), with some close allies turning against him amid a rising chorus of resignation calls.

The factional battles within the LDP began in earnest at the weekend, when the reformist Koichi Kato issued a direct challenge for the leadership.

A former secretary-general of the LDP, Mr Kato said he would either abstain or support a no-confidence motion against Mr Mori.

Mandate from heaven

There was speculation whether Mr Mori might resign rather than face a no-confidence vote, but the embattled leader said he would not step down.

Mori is known for making embarrassing gaffes

"When l accepted the offer to be prime minister, I said it was a mandate from heaven... I want faithfully to carry out my task," he said.

Known for making embarrassing gaffes, Mr Mori has stumbled from crisis to crisis since he took the post in April, after his predecessor, Keizo Obuchi, suffered a fatal stroke.

Correspondents say his indiscretions have weighed heavily on his approval ratings, which have slid below 20% - a level that has led past premiers to resign within months.

Economic concerns

The battle for the leadership has been fuelled by fears that Japan has failed to achieve a self-sustaining recovery and could even slip back into recession.

90% of the LDP MPs are saying they hope Mori will take the hint and step down

Young MP from LDP

Mr Kato wants to wean the LDP - which has long dominated Japanese politics - from its big-spending, big-government policies that have racked up huge public debts.

He is hoping to capitalise on fears that under the prime minister's lead, the Upper House could fare badly in polls next July, following the election setback suffered by the Lower House in June.

Such concerns were voiced by younger LDP members - who had previously supported Mr Mori - on Tuesday.