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(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-13 11:26

WASHINGTON -- The White House said Wednesday that it would expect Japan to keep supporting US-led military operations in Afghanistan despite the resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A man passes television monitors displaying a live broadcast of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announcing his resignation in Tokyo September 12, 2007. [Reuters]

"The United States and Japan remain strong and steadfast allies and the US looks forward to continuing that relationship with Japan," said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

"The Japanese have been strong supporters of the operation in Afghanistan and I expect they will continue to support that effort," he said after Abe quit after less than a year in power, falling victim to a string of scandals.

Johndroe said he expected Bush to telephone Abe on Wednesday or Thursday.

The conservative 52-year-old, the youngest Japanese leader in modern times and the first to be born after World War II, came to office determined to roll back the legacy of defeat by the Allies and build "a beautiful nation."

But a series of gaffes and scandals cost his ruling party control of the upper house of parliament in July, and Abe conceded that the resurgent opposition had made it impossible for him to do his job.

Abe's position had looked increasingly precarious as the newly empowered opposition refused to back his proposed reforms and an extension of a controversial mission in support of US-led forces in Afghanistan.

"I have made my utmost efforts with my belief that we should not stop reforms. But unfortunately, the party cannot hold talks with the opposition party because I am the prime minister," a visibly emotional Abe said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano, the government's top spokesman, also alluded to health concerns.

"We were worried. Prime Minister Abe was always assessing whether his health can withstand the hard schedule and pressure of a prime minister," Yosano told a press conference.

And a whiff of scandal surrounded the resignation as a Japanese weekly, the Shukan Gendai, announced that it would publish an article on Saturday on alleged inheritance tax evasion by Abe at the time of his father's death.

Abe said he had instructed his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to pick a successor "as soon as possible."

The party will likely hold an election on September 19, local media reported. Abe officially remains premier until that time.