It will do after the first year in office marked by a series of debilitating scandals and a humiliating electoral defeat.

Abe, who at 52 years is the youngest prime minister of Japan since World War II, said he was resigning to facilitate collaboration of the parties within and outside the government to approve the expansion of Tokyo's naval mission supporting to the multinational operation in Afghanistan.

"In the current situation, it is difficult to carry out effective policies to get the support and confidence of the people," Abe said at a news conference broadcast on television in the country. "I have decided that we need to change this situation."

Abe, popular support has fallen to 30 percent, also referred to the defeat of the ruling party in parliamentary elections on July 29 in which the opposition gained control of the Senate. He said he was quitting politics to minimize confusion.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano hinted that Abe had some health problems involved in its decision, but declined to specify.

Abe said he had instructed the ruling party leaders to begin an immediate search for a replacement, but did not announce the date of departure. Taro Aso, who was foreign minister in his government, is among the possible replacements, but declined to comment for the moment. According to media, the candidates are Yosano and former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki.

The Liberal Democratic Party, the government announced that Abe's successor appoint a speedy election process. The news agency Kyodo News reported that the ruling political organization intended to carry the election for president next Wednesday's game.

The leader of the ruling party has almost secured the position of prime minister because the LDP controls the powerful lower house of parliament.

The sudden resignation announcement was made ​​less than a month after Abe restructured the cabinet in an attempt to regain popular support.

Abe announced his departure just as the government faces the parliament to approve the extension of Japan's naval mission in the Indian Ocean.

The United States has pressured Japan to approve the extension. U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer met Wednesday morning with Cabinet officials, including Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, to emphasize the position of Washington.

The long-awaited plenary session of the lower house would be delayed at least by Friday. The opposition criticized Abe to resign before that meeting.

"I've been a politician for nearly 40 years, and I think this is the first time a prime minister remains in office after the ruling party loses the majority ... and announced his resignation shortly before being questioned in parliament," said Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan.

Abe, who took office in late September 2006, was at first fortunate actions to improving relations with China and South Korea. Also in his administration Defense Agency was upgraded to full ministerial rank for the first time since the Second World War.

But scandals in government began late last year and undermine popular support away from Abe. Four cabinet ministers were forced to resign in the last nine months, and one-Prime Minister Abe Agriculture committed suicide by financial scandal.

China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement praised Abe for leading a "clear improvement" in relations that deteriorated in the government of his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, and called for a closer. South Korea expressed a similar view.

(Via: eltiempo )

Incredible, just one year into office and Abe resigns, but it is not surprising, because almost all lately called Abe's resignation.