WORLD BRIEFING / JAPAN

Japan’s top opposition leader announced that he would resign to keep a political funding scandal from pulling down his party in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan, said at a news conference that he had decided to resign because he did not want the scandal involving one of his aides to cloud the vote, which must be held by Sept. 10.

“I deeply apologize,” he said. “I must do this for myself, for the people and for my party.”

The announcement was a major embarrassment for the Democrats, who surged ahead of Prime Minister Taro Aso’s ruling party in recent polls and had been pegged by some analysts as being in good position to win -- and possibly take over power -- if parliamentary elections are called soon.