Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Sept. 22 Kyodo - Outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda voiced hope Monday that new Liberal Democratic Party President Taro Aso will work hard to live up to people's expectations.

By Martin Fackler Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's abrupt resignation, the second by a Japanese head of state in under a year, underscores the chronic leadership vacuum plaguing the world's second-largest economy, even as it teeters into recession.

By Joseph Coleman TOKYO - Japan's unpopular prime minister abruptly resigned Monday after a yearlong struggle with a deadlocked parliament, leaving the weakened ruling party to grapple with a stalled economy and rising calls for snap elections.

Taro Aso, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Tuesday expressed interest to succeed Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who has resigned. Aso, 67, said he is qualified to run for party president in the election set for Sept.

By From news reports Yasuo Fukuda resigned as the prime minister of Japan on Monday, after less than a year in office marked by political gridlock, plunging approval ratings and disarray within the governing Liberal Democratic Party.