Japan industry minister quits

Japan's trade and industry minister has submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over claims she abused political funds.

Yuko Obuchi is alleged to have used funds from her political support groups and other donations on make-up and other items unconnected to politics.

She handed Abe a letter of resignation during a 30-minute meeting.

Correspondents say it is a blow to Abe, who wants to bring more women into the top levels of government.

Obuchi, 40, was one of five women appointed by Abe in his last cabinet reshuffle last month and tipped by some as a future prime minister.

But last week came news that her staff had spent tens of thousands of dollars of campaign funds shopping for designer goods, and tens of thousands more on taking constituents on trips to Tokyo.

The BBC's Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says that this is not the end of Abe's problems concerning his new female ministers.

Eriko Yamatani was shown in photographs with members of an ultra-nationalist group that has been accused of hate speech against Japan's ethnic Korean community, while an opposition party has filed a criminal complaint accusing Justice Minister Midori Matsushima of illegal election advertising.

Abe's first term as prime minister in 2006-2007 saw a string of scandals amongst his ministers, eventually leading to his own resignation for health reasons after just one year in office.