BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

New blow for Japanese Government

Chief cabinet secretary Hidenao Nakagawa was the prime minister's top aide who also served as chief government spokesman.

A Japanese tabloid weekly has published allegations that Mr Nakagawa had contacts with a senior figure in an extreme right-wing group, the Japan Youth Federation, as well as lurid details about an alleged extramarital affair.

BBC Tokyo correspondent Charles Scalon says the resignation is being seen as an attempt to relieve pressure on Mr Mori, whose weak administration has been dogged by scandal since its formation in April.

Although the minister has denied most of the charges, he has appeared to accept some culpability.

Last week he made a statement to parliament admitting he was "no saint". Now he says he is stepping down to avoid further trouble.

Mori pressure

Mr Mori himself has been under fire over remarks he made about Japanese citizens allegedly kidnapped by North Korea.

He suggested that they could save face by having the missing people turn up in a third country - evidence of gross diplomatic ineptitude, according to Mr Mori's critics.

Earlier this week the Japanese magazine Focus published a photograph of the woman sitting on a bed that it said belonged to Mr Nakagawa.

The minister said he was not present at the time, and said the allegation was a matter for his family.

Tabloids have also accused him of allegedly tipping her off about being the subject of a police narcotics investigation and using a false name in a document for an abortion.

Mr Mori's support rating has dropped to 23% in October, another five points lower than in September, according to a poll in the newspaper Asahi Shimbun.