Japanese PM's ally arrested

Japanese prosecutors have arrested a senior figure in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in another blow for the embattled prime minister Yoshiro Mori.

Officials said the man, Masakuni Murakami, was held on suspicion of accepting money from the mutual aid foundation KSD at the centre of a political bribery scandal. Mr Murakami is one of a handful of senior party powerbrokers who appointed Mr Mori to his post. The main opposition Democratic party has warned that the arrest could pave the way for a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister.

Support for Mr Mori has plunged to just over six percent following a series of gaffes and scandals involving his close political allies.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service