Japanese minister quits but says: I wasn't drunk

JAPANESE finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa said today he would resign after accusations that he was drunk at a G7 meeting.

Mr Nakagawa slurred his words and appeared to fall asleep during a news conference in Rome.

At one stage he mistook a question aimed at the governor of the Bank of Japan as one intended for him.

He repeated his claim that he had only had a sip of wine before the conference and claimed that taking cold medicine had affected his behaviour. He said he was stepping down for "health reasons".

Mr Nakagawa had already apologised for his behaviour at last weekend's conference and told reporters in Tokyo today: "I visited hospital last night and this morning and was diagnosed to have a bad lower back, cold and fatigue."

He said he intended to resign after the government's budget was passed by parliament's lower house, although the exact timing of his departure was unclear. He added: "I'll do my best to fulfil my duties for the remaining days."

The resignation deals a fresh blow to unpopular prime minister Taro Aso in an election year. Mr Aso asked his close ally to stay in his post yesterday but pressure for the minister to resign emerged from within his own Liberal Democratic party.

Mr Nakagawa's offer to step down has emboldened the opposition Democratic Party of Japan which is scenting victory in an election that must be held no later than October.