Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo announces his resignation

Snip
TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation Wednesday at a news conference in Tokyo after serving one year in office.

Prime Mininster Shinzo Abe drops his head as he listens to questions during a press conference on Wednesday.

"A short while ago I informed officials about my intentions to resign," Abe said, underscoring the need to "be careful not to create a void in the political leadership."

The prime minister said Japan should try to have a new leader "as soon as possible ... even today if possible."

The decision to step down as head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was made, Abe said, because he was "having an adverse effect on enabling Japan's efforts to contribute" to the "fight against terror."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/12/abe.resign/index.html

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DEVELOPING STORY:

Russian news agencies cite the Kremlin as saying that President Vladimir Putin dissolved the government Wednesday.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov asked the Kremlin to dissolve his government, Russian news agencies reported, with less than three months remaining before parliamentary elections.

Fradkov made the decision based on "the approaching major political events in the country and a desire to give the president full freedom in making decisions, including personnel," Fradkov was quoted by ITAR-Tass as saying.

A Kremlin spokesman could not immediately comment on the report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296505,00.html

I do NOT want to be alarmist as I usually am ...lol but I can find no other explanation for this other than Russia is going to war with someone?

Putin will REMAIN in power as this has to mean that the election is off! more as it comes in...