Aide's exit deals another blow to Mori

TOKYO, DEC. 1. The secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party resigned on Friday, a move that could further undermine the already shaky administration of the Prime Minister, Mr. Yoshiro Mori.

Mr. Hiromu Nonaka, the party's second-in-command, submitted his resignation to Mr. Mori saying he was stepping down because he was ``tired and would like to rest.'' The announcement sent a jolt through the ruling party, and intensified jockeying for posts in a shake-up of the Cabinet and ruling party leadership scheduled for early next week.

A spokesman for Mr. Mori said the Prime Minister accepted Mr. Nonaka's resignation after repeated attempts to convince him to stay on. Mr. Makoto Koga, a former transport minister, was reportedly the top candidate to succeed Mr. Nonaka. The Cabinet shake-up is meant to refresh the image of Mr. Mori's administration following a no-confidence motion in Parliament last week that nearly split the ruling party.

Mr. Nonaka, one of the party's most powerful veterans, was generally credited as saving Mr. Mori, Japan's least popular Prime Minister in years, by dissuading rebellious ruling-party members from voting against him.

Mr. Mori was expected to announce the new lineup as early as Tuesday. But filling the new Cabinet could be a problem.

Before Mr. Nonaka's resignation, the chief economic planner, Mr. Taichi Sakaiya, said he would not accept a post in the new Cabinet. The Finance Minister, Mr. Kiichi Miyazawa, the Cabinet's most powerful minister, has expressed hesitation as well.

Though not a Cabinet member, Mr. Nonaka (75), had been expected to continue in his role as party secretary-general. Mr. Mori is the party president. Mr. Nonaka's absence could weaken the coalition arrangement under which the Liberal Democrats and two smaller parties govern Japan.

Though Mr. Nonaka was able to guide Mr. Mori through the no- confidence crisis, Mr. Mori's hold on power remains shaky at best.

His support has fallen below 20 per cent in recent polls, and he is reportedly under pressure to resign soon so a new administration can rebuild support ahead of parliamentary elections due next summer.

- AP

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