The main Japanese opposition party on Tuesday backed the government's third pick for Bank of Japan governor, ending a stalemate that has left the world's second largest economy without a permanent central bank chief for three weeks in the midst of a global credit crisis.

The Japanese government on Monday picked the acting governor of the Bank of Japan, Masaaki Shirakawa, as its latest nominee to head the bank permanently, finally finding a candidate that the opposition was likely to approve after weeks of a crisis.

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan agreed Friday to support the promotion of Masaaki Shirakawa to governor of the Bank of Japan, a party leader said. Shirakawa has been deputy governor.

By Martin Fackler A political showdown that intensified Wednesday is blocking Japan from selecting the next leader of its central bank, increasing the chances that the post could sit vacant at a time of increasing financial turmoil.

Text of report by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Kandahar, 31 January: Eight people have been killed, including a deputy governor, and an equal number have been wounded in a suicide attack [in southern Afghanistan].