Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan Resigns

Center called for him to resign due to his mishandling of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster.

Naoto Kan

UPDATE: Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda was chosen as the next
prime minister by 398 ruling-party legislators instead of by a general election.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan resigned after almost 15 months in office.  Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara is viewed as the front-runner to replace Kan. The 64-year-old Kan's approval ratings tumbled amid a perceived lack of leadership after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis. Survivors complain about slow recovery efforts, and radiation from the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi plant has spread into the air, water and food supply.

The Center will also call for the next president to step down if he or she does not immediately act to permanently seal the Fukushima Daiichi site. (MSNBC, 8/26/2011)