BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Japanese opposition aide charged - 0 views
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An aide to Japanese opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa has been charged with violating a political funds law, Japanese media has reported.
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Japanese media said the charges put more pressure on Mr Ozawa to decide whether or not to resign. Before the scandal broke, Mr Ozawa was considered a likely victor in national elections which must be held this year.
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Analysts had predicted Mr Ozawa stood his best chance ever of unseating the incumbent Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader, Prime Minister Taro Aso, in the coming elections. Such a victory would end almost 50 years of unbroken rule by the LDP, which is facing huge voter discontent amid worsening economic gloom.
