JAPAN - Former Japanese PM dies aged 68

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Saturday, 1 July 2006,

07:04 GMT 08:04 UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former

Japanese PM dies aged 68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryutaro

Hashimoto's reformist agenda led to his downfall

 

 

 

Japan's

former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto has died at the age of 68.

He had been critically ill in a Tokyo hospital with

intestinal problems after undergoing surgery.

Mr Hashimoto, of the Liberal Democratic Party, served as prime

minister from 1996 to 1998. He retired from politics last year because of his

poor health.

As prime minister, he introduced financial reforms, but resigned

after an electoral setback which was blamed on an unpopular tax increase.

He also put security ties with the United States on a firmer

footing and resolved a crisis over opposition to US bases in Okinawa.

But the tax increase - introduced in an attempt to cut the

nation's huge budget - backfired when it led to a collapse in consumer

spending and then defeat in upper house elections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5136018.stm

 

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